The two men who were intercepted and taken into custody for the alleged assault of a young woman on the R555 between Middelburg and eMalahleni wish to clear their names and said they are being wrongfully targeted.

Johannes Motsieloa and John Madikane came to the Middelburg Observer to tell their version of the events that happened on August 6, on the old Witbank road, which resulted in a concerned motorist calling for help and their consequent apprehension in eMalahleni.

The Observer previously reported on Wayne Julyan’s account of a young woman, whom he guessed to be a teenager, trying to escape from a moving Volkswagen Polo at the four-way intersection near the weighbridge on the R555.

Wayne alleged to have witnessed one of the men assaulting the young woman, and detailed how tugging and shoving and struggling continued all the way to eMalahleni.

Johannes Motsieloa (the driver and owner of the Polo) and John Madikane (the young woman’s father) deny the assault and explained they were just trying to take John’s daughter to her mother, who lives in Phola.

According to John, his daughter is mentally unwell and lives either with him or his ex-wife. At the time, she was staying with him after repeatedly running away from her mother’s house. She is not a teenager and is 24 years old.

John explained they were taking her back to Phola after she ran away from his house, resulting in him having to fetch her from the streets. When they reached the four-way stop, she jumped out of the moving vehicle.

John went after her to catch her when a police constable, who was flagged down by Wayne, intervened.

“We explained to the police what the situation was, and they even called the girl’s mother, who confirmed,” Johannes told the paper.

The police then let them continue on their journey, and what bothers Johannes the most is that Wayne followed them and called for help despite the police being satisfied with their explanation.

Johannes told the Observer that John did not hit his daughter, but grabbed her around her body to restrain her and prevent her from jumping from the moving vehicle.

According to Johannes, they were followed by Wayne until they were eventually stopped in Klipfontein by a large group of people, including the police.
Johannes said someone grabbed his keys and wallet, and John alleges he was assaulted by someone in the crowd.

They were taken to the Witbank Police Station until the police verified with the daughter’s mother, after which they were released and escorted to the hospital, where John’s daughter had been taken.

“When we got there, the police left without saying anything,” John said.

No charges were laid against them, but Johannes told the Observer that photos of his vehicle, which had been taken during their interception at Klipfontein, are circulating all over eMalahleni.

Johannes said he is being targeted and cannot use his vehicle because he fears his vehicle will be damaged, and someone might kill him.

He also alleges that he is now facing disciplinary action at work, and fears for his job because everyone thinks he is a kidnapper.

Furthermore, Johannes alleges that his wallet was never returned to him, which contained R820.

• The Observer confirmed with Captain Eddie Hall, media spokesperson of the Witbank SAPS, that no charges were laid against the two men.

Neither John nor Johannes could clarify whether the confiscation of their belongings or the assault was made by members of the SAPS or members of the public.