Criminal charges have been laid against a South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) official accused of trying to run over DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko with a car, the party’s Eastern Cape office said on Monday.
“Charges of reckless driving and intent to do grievous bodily harm were laid against the chairperson of Sadtu’s Hewu branch Honjiswa Mrwebi,” Democratic Alliance provincial chairperson Edmund van Vuuren said in a statement.
Warrant Officer Alwin Labans confirmed that charges had been laid at the Humewood police station in Port Elizabeth.
“There was a case of reckless and negligent driving as well as attempted murder opened by Edmund van Vuuren. The case will now be transferred to Queenstown where the crime happened,” he said.
Labans said no arrests had been made.
Van Vuuren accused Mrwebi of trying to run over Mazibuko in Whittlesea, outside Queenstown, during a 12km walk on Friday to highlight problems with scholar transport in the area. Mazibuko was accompanied by school children and Van Vuuren.
The DA has asked Eastern Cape education department superintendent general Modidima Mannya to investigate. Van Vuuren said Mannya had accepted the party’s request. He said he had also contacted provincial education minister Mandla Makupula.
“Sadtu’s reaction to Ms Mazibuko’s solidarity walk is a symptom of the union’s aggressive attitude to people with genuine concerns about the impact that difficulties like transport and strikes have on learners. This incident is unacceptable and the DA expects the provincial minister to take action,” said Van Vuuren.
On Saturday, the Dispatch Online reported that Mrwebi had admitted she had wanted to hit Mazibuko with her car. She reportedly accused Mazibuko of “wasting” the children’s time.
Mazibuko called the incident a “non-event” by a “rogue teacher”.
“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 was 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. — Sapa