Blue-light victim to hit back - MSN - News

Blue-light victim to hit back - MSN - News:
Lawyers for the teenager who has been shot when he allegedly 'disturbed' President Kgalema Motlanthe’s blue-light motorcade will sue the state.
SASHNI PATHER
LAWYERS for the teenager who was shot in the arm when he allegedly “disturbed” President Kgalema Motlanthe’s blue-light motorcade on Saturday say he will sue the state.
Chase van der Walt’s lawyer, Hugo van der Westhuizen, told The Times yesterday that his client was shot at by Motlanthe’s VIP protection unit guards.
“The person who fired a shot at my client should face criminal charges. Civil suits will follow from that action,” Van der Westhuizen said.
Van der Walt, 19, was arrested and charged with reckless and negligent driving after allegedly driving too close to the president’s car.
It is alleged that, when Van der Walt’s car neared the president’s vehicle, the lead police car intercepted and collided with his VW Golf.
“When my client returns to court next week, we are hoping to get the matter struck off the roll,” Van der Westhuizen said.
Van der Walt appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and was released on R500 bail.
A police spokeswoman, Director Sally de Beer, said a member of the VIP protection unit fired a warning shot.
“We will pursue criminal charges against the shooter,” said Van der Westhuizen. “In the civil case, we will serve our notice of intention to the relevant minister, but right now our main concern is getting the criminal charges against my client dropped.”
The controversial VIP protection unit’s image has been tarnished by a litany of complaints against its members - who face criminal charges that include murder, rape, assault and robbery.The head of protection unit, divisional commander Mzondeki "Sean" Tshabalala, recently crashed his car into a police van while drunk, it has been alleged.
The Van der Walt incident is being investigated by the Independent Complaints Directorate.
The DA’s Dianne Kohler Barnard said her party would ask Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa to explain why Tshabalala had not been prosecuted or subjected to an internal disciplinary hearing.
“If the divisional commander does face charges, why has he not been suspended from active duty while the charges are pending?
“Why has no further information on a potentially serious case involving a divisional commander in the police service been released?” she asked.
It is believed that allegations will be investigated that the VIP unit tampered with videotape confiscated from the SABC that was filmed at the scene of Saturday’s shooting.