A Pretoria resident, who alleges that he was brutally stabbed by an acting judge and senior prosecutor in a road rage incident, has filed a civil claim for damages.

Conrad Pretorius is also contemplating private prosecution with the help of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) chose to pursue a counter-charge opened by his alleged attacker rather than his case.

Pretorius was allegedly involved in an altercation with the acting judge in Menlo Park on August 1 when they both stopped at traffic lights Pretorius claimed were not working.

Pretorius alleges that the judge chased him and his wife through the streets in his vehicle for about 5km until he drove into a cul-de-sac and was forced to stop. Both men got out of their vehicles and Pretorius was stabbed in the neck and leg in the process.

According to AfriForum spokesperson Barry Bateman, Pretorius drove himself to the nearest hospital after the incident.

MEDIA STATEMENT: Victim files civil claim against acting judge involved in alleged road rage incident

Three months after Conrad Pretorius was allegedly stabbed in the neck and leg by an acting judge and practicing advocate, he has filed a damages claim at the Pretoria High… pic.twitter.com/YW3akjW5dc

— Barry Bateman (@barrybateman) November 17, 2023

“Pretorius was hospitalised and discharged almost a week later. While in hospital, he filed a criminal complaint of attempted murder against the acting judge, but soon discovered that the judge had filed a criminal complaint against him,” said Bateman.

He said AfriForum’s private prosecution unit had made representations to the NPA and argued that the decision to prosecute the victim was irrational.

Bateman said the decision further demonstrated that the acting judge was being shielded from prosecution due to their status within the legal fraternity.

However, in its letter to AfriForum, the NPA said there was no reason to interfere with the decision of the Hatfield court senior prosecutor and that the trial must continue.

AfriForum maintained its view and further said it would approach the national director of public prosecutions to review the decision.

“It is not uncommon for counter-charges to be filed in criminal matters to frustrate the course of justice. We see it far too often. This is why we have emphasised the importance of the NPA taking into account all the evidence in this matter to make a rational and just decision.”

Pretorius appeared in the Hatfield magistrate’s court on Tuesday, November 7 when the case was postponed to January 11 for further investigation.