Man assaulted in road rage incident

Riaan Pretorius from Florida and his 15-year-old daughter fell victim to road rage in the early morning hours of 31 May in the Little Falls area.

Pretorius and his daughter were travelling home at approximately 2am after visiting with friends when the incident took place.

According to Pretorius they were travelling on a stretch of road that narrowed to one lane when a technical support vehicle of the Chubb Fire and Security group travelling next to them wanted space. A truck was travelling in front of Pretorius’ vehicle and he could not give the Chubb vehicle a chance, which apparently enraged the driver so much that he continued following them, flashing his lights and making rude gestures.

When the two vehicles stopped at the traffic lights on the corner of Cascades Road and Hendrik Potgieter Road the man in the Chubb vehicle, who was in civilian clothing, got out and started hitting Pretorius through his open window. Pretorius and his daughter got out of the vehicle and when she tried to take a photograph of the registration plate of the Chubb vehicle the man allegedly attempted to hit her as well.

The two vehicles then went their separate ways. Pretorius says he did not report the incident to the police because he does not know against whom he must lay the charges.

Chubbs communication officer Alison Bull strongly condemned the incident but thanked the Roodepoort record for bringing it to the company’s attention.

Bull reported back that after investigation they established the identity of the employee who in turn made a sworn statement which contradicts Pretorius’ version.

According to the man Pretorius tried to push him off the road. He also added that another vehicle stopped and three men broke up the fight between him and Pretorius during which one of the men allegedly drew a gun and cocked it.

Pretorius counter claimed that the men did arrive on the scene but only as he was leaving and that he therefor do not know what took place.