/ 23 December 2013

Hofmeyr speeding court date bungled

Musician Steve Hofmeyr.
Musician Steve Hofmeyr.

There has been a misunderstanding about the court appearance date of Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr, who was arrested for speeding last week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Monday.

Hofmeyr would appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court on December 30, and not on Monday, said NPA spokesperson Medupe Simasiku.

"There was a misunderstanding at the police station about the date," he said.

Hofmeyr was arrested in Bronkhorstspruit on Thursday night for speeding and was released on bail of R500.

"He will appear … on charges of reckless and negligent driving and for exceeding the general speed limit for driving 169km/h in a 80km/h zone," Gauteng traffic police spokesperson Busaphi Nxumalo said at the time.

'Irresponsible and dangerous'
In a statement on Friday, Hofmeyr said it was irresponsible to speed.

"I concede this was irresponsible and dangerous," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Hofmeyr complimented the police officers who dealt with him, describing them as "friendly, professional and thorough" and thanked those who were on duty.

At 11.15pm on Thursday night, just after the arrest, Hofmeyr took to social media website Twitter to comment in Afrikaans: "Hier is plek vir net een tronkvoël in hierdie tronksel, Julius. Skuif op vetgat. [There is space for only one jailbird in this cell, Julius. Move over fatso]."

He was referring to Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema who was also arrested on Thursday evening for speeding. He was caught going 215km/h in a 120km/h zone on the N1 in the Vaal, and was released on bail of R5 000. – Sapa