/ 14 April 2012

E Cape teacher tries to mow Mazibuko down

E Cape Teacher Tries To Mow Mazibuko Down

A South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) member tried to run over Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko with a car, the party said on Saturday.

“A Sadtu official, Honjiswa Mrwebi, who is also a teacher and chairperson of the Hewu-branch of the union in the Whittlesea area outside Queenstown purposefully and with intent tried to run… Mazibuko over with her vehicle on Friday,” said DA’s Eastern Cape chairperson Edmund van Vuuren in a statement.

Van Vuuren was accompanying Mazibuko and school pupils on a 12km walk on Friday to highlight the problems with scholar transport in the area.

“This woman, who openly advocated violence, must be subjected to a departmental inquest and punitive measures instituted against her if found guilty,” said van Vuuren.

He said he had started proceedings to have Mrwebi’s actions investigated by the superintendent-general of the department of education.

The Dispatch Online reported that Mrwebi had admitted she had wanted to hit Mazibuko with her car because she accused the DA member of “wasting” the children’s time.

Mazibuko on Saturday called the incident a “non-event” by a “rogue teacher”.

Unaware of the plot
“It was a non-event. When we were walking on the road the occasional car would pass by and I remember one almost hitting me but I am not aware of some evil plot,” said Mazibuko.

“I didn’t realise who was behind the wheel. I wasn’t aware of a plot to harm me. We were not trying to engage this rogue teacher who was trying to create some sort of a ruckus….I don’t really care either way,” she said.

Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said she could not comment on the matter because she was unaware of the incident. Provincial secretary for the union Mncekeleli Ndongeni could not be immediately reached for comment.

Van Vuuren said: “The DA in the Eastern Cape is contemplating laying criminal charges against this woman, who is contributing to the further decay of society’s moral fibre.” — Sapa