Johannesburg | Monday
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki’s official car was involved in an accident on the N1 south highway near the Olifantsfontein off-ramp between Johannesburg and Pretoria on Monday morning, Johannesburg Metro police said.
Inspector Wayne Minnaar said the president was in the car, but was not injured.
Two of the drivers of other cars in the presidential entourage sustained slight injuries.
Minnaar said Mbeki’s car was bumped from behind around 9.45am in heavy traffic.
The exact cause of the accident was not yet known.
By 10.15am Mbeki had been whisked away, but traffic on the highway was still badly congested.
Minnaar said only the left lane was open to traffic with both the middle and right hand lane closed.
Presidential representative Bheki Khumalo confirmed that the president was in an accident.
”The president was not hurt and not affected by the accident at all,” Khumalo said.
”He is at the moment at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, attending a meeting and carrying on with his normal duties as head of the government and leader of the country.”
He said the president’s office would issue a full statement later in the day. – Sapa