The man accused of assaulting a provincial traffic officer in Potchefstroom in mid-December last year appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrates’ Court again on Tuesday, together with his sister.
Lt-Col Pelonomi Makau, the provincial police spokesperson reported at the time that the 32-year-old man, Sabata Kortman was initially charged with common assault but later also charged with crimen injuria and failure to comply with a traffic act’. His sister, 26-year-old Ntsoaki Kortman, is accused of preventing the law from taking its course.
Magistrate Makgaola Foso postponed the case to 20 February as the state prosecutor had said the investigating officer still had to complete the statements of the two witnesses.
The siblings appeared for a bail application on 14 December. Sabata was released on bail of R5 000 and his sister, R2 000.
The case attracted attention when a video surfaced on social media in which a Potchefstroom provincial traffic official was assaulted and sworn at by a motorist on the Johannesburg N12 near Lekwena Estate.
According to WO Mpho Manyoba, the traffic official was busy inspecting the barrier line when he saw a silver Toyota Yaris overtake another vehicle on a barrier line.
‘The traffic officer stopped the vehicle, told the motorist about the wrongful act and asked for his driver’s licence,’ said Manyoba.
‘He handed over his driver’s licence but refused to disclose his residential address and started assaulting the traffic official. He aggressively demanded his licence back. The driver’s female companion further insulted the traffic official’s colleague and helped the motorist flee the scene before receiving the fine,’ she reported.
Manyoba says the traffic official’s wristwatch and glasses were damaged during the altercation.
On Tuesday, the courtroom was filled to the brim with traffic officers and the Minister of Transport, Joe Maswanganyi, in an act of solidarity with the victim, Officer Johannes Manthi.
Harsh measures for assaulting law enforcers
Maswanganyi did not mince his words when he declared that ‘we are not going to tolerate a situation where law enforcers are assaulted when they are on duty. There is a rule of law and anyone who doesn’t respect the law is an offender and harsh measures have to be taken.’
He said traffic officers work 24/7 to make sure they enforce the law. ‘They have done well in the year under review and the fatalities, injuries and road accidents have decreased by almost 11 per cent. But nobody congratulated them,’ he said.
Despite the incident, he urged them to stay firm and remain in their areas of responsibility, assuring them of the support of the minister and the MEC.
The victim, Officer Johannes Manthi said he was very uncomfortable when the incident happened and feared most for his children. ‘What would have happened to my children?’ he said.
Despite his horrible ordeal, Manthi says he still loves his job and will continue to protect and ensure the safety of road users.
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