Mr Bafana Manana lodged a formal complaint against the police after a displeasing experience.
He was on his way home from Meyerville on 17 November when he was involved in an accident with a small truck.
There was a traffic build-up in Nelson Mandela Drive due to a reported drowning incident at the Vaal River, which turned out to be inaccurate.
Mr Manana had to stop and his vehicle and was shortly thereafter rear-ended by the truck.
According to Mr Manana, he got out of his vehicle and asked the driver why he did not stop.
The driver allegedly did not reply satisfactorily and Mr Manana asked Const Bongani Ndhlovu, who was attending to the drowning incident, to assist in organising a blood alcohol level test because he doubted the driver’s sobriety.
The police officer however directed him and the truck driver to the police station, saying they were busy with the incident on the bridge.
At the police station, both drivers completed an accident report.
According to Mr Manana, Capt Masotsha Joseph Hlatswayo arrived later and first ordered a constable to take them to hospital who allegedly refused and then asked Const Ndhlovu to take them to hospital, but he allegedly said he could not since he was still busy at the bridge.
By then it was nearly 5.30pm and according to Mr Manana, he kept on enquiring when the alcohol level test would be carried out.
“The truck driver in the meantime drank water, which to my knowledge is not allowed,” Mr Manana said.
According to Mr Manana, Capt Hlatswayo said they would hand over the matter to the officers on the next shift.
Read the police’s response on the matter in the next edition of the Standerton Advertiser.
