A screengrab taken from cellphone footage of the assault.
The video shows the cyclist, Hein van der Merwe, being pushed to the ground by the bodyguards, who allegedly tried to run him off the road.
Van der Merwe claimed he took photographs of the diplomat, who allegedly threatened him before driving off. This is where the video starts – after the diplomat's bodyguard allegedly knocked Van der Merwe's phone out of his hand and pushed him to the ground.
He claimed that the photographs were deleted and that the police would not take down his statement. This was despite the fact that the driver broke diplomatic protocol by not reporting to the nearest embassy after the altercation.
The video shows Van der Merwe shouting for help while witnesses looked on. The owner of the cellphone, on which the video was recorded, repeatedly shouted for the police to be called before onlookers intervened and helped Van der Merwe up.
Getting attention
Van der Merwe told the Mail & Guardian on Monday that he was training last Wednesday near the University of Pretoria when the black Mercedez-Benz narrowly missed knocking him down.
He said he tried to get the driver's attention by cycling next to the car and repeatedly shouting at him. Finally, Van der Merwe said he struck the side mirror of the vehicle twice.
"The vehicle deliberately tried to run me over by swerving into me right outside Pretoria Boys' High," he said.
An argument ensued, and Van der Merwe said the driver admitted seeing him at the previous intersection, but felt he didn't have to stop, as it was up to the cyclist to "take evasive action".
The driver allegedly told him that he tried to run him down on instructions from the diplomat in the vehicle.
"He also told this to the police officer who was on the scene, when the police officer asked him why he broke protocol by not driving to the embassy," Van der Merwe said.
"After a heated argument, I told the driver, after he asked me why I was throwing such a scene, that I wanted him to apologise as it is drivers like him that hit and seriously injure cyclists using our public roads," he said.
Intimidation
It was then that the diplomat allegedly threatened to break Van der Merwe's neck. The driver then took off his jacket and tie "in an attempt to intimidate me", he said.
"He tried to tempt me to hit him by telling me to do so but I refused as I knew everything was being recorded, and that I did not do anything wrong," he said.
Van der Merwe repeatedly tried to ascertain the nationality of the diplomat, but his bodyguards refused to tell him.
"I then took photos of the vehicle, licence plate, car licence, the bodyguard and the driver," he said. At this point, the bodyguard allegedly told him these photos would "get me nowhere".
He then asked the diplomat directly.
"The diplomat directly threatened me and told me I was going to go to jail and that he will see to it," Van der Merwe said.
"I then went to the Brooklyn police station to press charges and open a docket where they told me they cannot open a case and that I have to go to some headquarters in Troy Street as it [the incident] involves diplomatic police and foreign diplomats," he said.
eBlockwatch
Van der Merwe then enlisted the help of eBlockwatch – a community-run organisation that attempts to use technology to track and solve crime.
Andre Snyman, founder of eBlockwatch, said video footage is increasingly helping communities combat rogue elements in the police and in government. Snyman is helping Van der Merwe to track down the diplomat and his bodyguards.
"At the moment we are way ahead of criminals, and we urge members of the public to log on to our site and register with us."
Snyman has set up a network for cyclists through eBlockwatch as incidents of crimes against cyclists appear to be on the rise.
The site managed to track and arrest the rapists of a female cyclist who was attacked by five men near OR Tambo Airport while training.
"It's a worldwide trend because the digital divide is closing. Everybody has a cellphone. Video footage is catching a lot of criminals out. It's working beautifully," he said.
The Brooklyn police were not immediately available for comment.
Meanwhile, a cyclist was killed in Cape Town after a hit-and-run collision.
Koos Roux (59) of Bloemendal was killed while riding on Bottelary Road, Cape Town with his son, Kobus (19) on Sunday.
No one was arrested for the incident by Monday.