The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday expressed concern over reported plans by a senior police officer to present an apology to MP Winnie Madikizela-Mandela after her car was stopped for speeding.
“I am extremely concerned at the reports which claim that Lieutenant General Mwzandile Petros is going to accompany the police officers involved to apologise to Mrs Mandela,” said Kate Lorimer, the DA’s spokesperson for safety and security in Gauteng.
“If this is the case, what on earth makes the lieutenant general think that some people can indiscriminately break the law?”
Beeld newspaper reported that Petros, from the Gauteng provincial police office, would accompany officers who stopped a car carrying Madikizela-Mandela on December 30 after it was spotted going 150km/h, to present her with an apology.
The officers claimed that they were verbally and physically abused by the ex-wife of former president Nelson Mandela and her bodyguards.
Lorimer called for an independent investigation into the incident.
“Mrs Mandela is a member of Parliament, no more, no less. She has no special dispensation when it comes to breaking the law.
“Lieutenant General Petros should be backing up his policemen on this issue, as it seems that they were only doing their job, as he has, on numerous occasions, instructed.”
Gauteng police could not immediately confirm the report that Petros planned to see to it that the officers apologise to Madikizela-Mandela. — Sapa