Cycling Kids driven off the road - Cape Point

[Also-oldschool]

I come hat in hand for advice from the Leagle Eagles on the group

Monday, 13 April, I experienced something that shows just how dangerous that negative anti cyclist mindset has become.
Everyone in the Deep South knows the kids from the Fresh Start Cycling Club — riding in their Rawson Properties kit.
Late yesterday afternoon, I came across them at Klaasjagtersbos Gate on Plateau Road, just outside Cape Point.
A Citi Golf travelling towards Red Hill knocked some of the riders off their bikes. No serious injuries.
The driver stopped and reversed back to the grou but instead of helping, he told them:
“Next time I will kill all of you f***ing cyclists.”
He then drove off — running over one of the kids’ bicycles in the process. Keep in mind that he just seconds earlier reversed and leaves in the direction he reversed from.
Let that sink in.
This could have ended very differently. They were millimetres away from another tragedy.
What makes this even harder:
•    The rider whose bike was destroyed is a promising young cyclist — he podiumed at Killarney just this past weekend
•    These kids come from communities facing gangsterism and drug abuse — yet they choose discipline, sport, and a better path
•    They ride hand-me-down bikes — not expensive gear
•    That bike wasn’t just transport — it was opportunity, purpose, and hope
And in a deliberate act of violence, it was taken away.

To me it is important that the legal system kick in and that this guy is prosecuted and that the legal wheels start turning against wreckless behavious towards cyclist.

No for the real problem:

When he drove over the bike a kid picked up a stone and throw it at the car. The driver laid charges of malicious damage to property at SAPS in Simons Town. He claims the stone broke the rear window (but a picture we have shows no broken window). When the club went to SAPS to lay charges, they were informed that the driver already opened a case and SAPS refused to accept charges of reckless driving, etc against the driver.

The driver is prepared to let the charges drop against the minor child (he is in primary school) if they pay the R1900 towards the broken glass. No repercussion for him.

I insisted that they go back to SAPS - we are going there this afternoon to try again

Are there any legal eagles on this group with a passion for cycling who is prepared to advise the club?

Edited Saturday at 11:00 AM by Also-oldschool

[DieselnDust]

My blood is boiling

[DieselnDust]

They have every right to Lay a charge. They have more witnesses and they are minors. get hold of the PPa office 

[Mook]

Lay a charge at Sea Point SAPS in whose area the incident took place.

They have to log the charge.

[Wannabe]

Not a Legal Eagle myself, but what I know of the system is that the SAPS MUST open the charge, they cannot refuse to do it, even if it is in a different SAPS area to where the incident took place.

And if the perp laid a charge already, his information is available and he can easily be found.

 

Edited Saturday at 12:57 PM by Wannabe

[Prince Albert Cycles]

7 minutes ago, Wannabe said:

Not a Legal Eagle myself, but what I know of the system is that the SAPS MUST open the charge, they cannot refuse to do it, even if it is in a different SAPS area to where the incident took place.

And if the perp laid a charge already, his information is available and he can easily be found.

 

Am an ex legal eagle.

Police may not refuse to accept the complaint 

Dont pay the R1900 

[Also-oldschool]

44 minutes ago, Mook said:

Lay a charge at Sea Point SAPS in whose area the incident took place.

They have to log the charge.

The incident happened at Cape Point - Simons Town jurisdiction. 
 

just came back from SAPS. The first thing they did was to phone the Investigating Officer who told them not to accept the case. 
 

these kids are getting formally charged on Monday - fingerprints and all.
the motorist is walking away - no consequences to him. 

[DieselnDust]

6 minutes ago, Also-oldschool said:

The incident happened at Cape Point - Simons Town jurisdiction. 
 

just came back from SAPS. The first thing they did was to phone the Investigating Officer who told them not to accept the case. 
 

these kids are getting formally charged on Monday - fingerprints and all.
the motorist is walking away - no consequences to him. 

This is bs. Corruption at work. 
 

you need to get hold of a lawyer asap.

[NC_lurker]

4 minutes ago, Also-oldschool said:

The incident happened at Cape Point - Simons Town jurisdiction. 
 

just came back from SAPS. The first thing they did was to phone the Investigating Officer who told them not to accept the case. 
 

these kids are getting formally charged on Monday - fingerprints and all.
the motorist is walking away - no consequences to him. 

Sorry to hear about your experience with Simonstown police station. Unfortunately it parallels my experience with them. I was hit & injured (elbow surgery required) by a potentially drunk naval seaman 50m from the police station a couple of years ago. After giving false information the motorist drove off. We subsequently traced him via naval security.

The cops refused to come to the scene when requested by another cyclist.... literally outside their front door! They then tried to refuse to take my statement as per my retelling. Only after duress did they record it. I then spent 3wks trying to get hold of the station commander to follow up. He was never available & never returned my calls. In the end I had to give up and focus on looking after myself post surgery and moving forward.

[NC_lurker]

4 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

This is bs. Corruption at work. 
 

you need to get hold of a lawyer asap.

Quite possible that the motorist is part of the Navy. If my experience is anything to go by the Simonstown cops will do everything they can to not lay any charges against a member of the Navy. 

Interestingly though, I did find out that even an off duty member of the armed forces has a duty of care towards civilians. Which my understanding means that even if he was driving a personal vehicle the military police can charge him. Good luck with that...unless you've got a contact it's another dead-end...or at least it was for me ☹️

[Mook]

1 hour ago, Also-oldschool said:

The incident happened at Cape Point - Simons Town jurisdiction. 
 

just came back from SAPS. The first thing they did was to phone the Investigating Officer who told them not to accept the case. 
 

these kids are getting formally charged on Monday - fingerprints and all.
the motorist is walking away - no consequences to him. 

Sorry @Also-oldschool, my bad. You did say cape Point ☝️

Still, SAPS cannot refuse to accept your complaint/charge.

[Mook]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

This is bs. Corruption at work. 
 

you need to get hold of a lawyer asap.

Or Ian Cameron

[cadenceblur]

What a cowardly POS !

This is ripe for escalation to PPA for starters who should drive this to a charge of some sort . 

[babse]

58 minutes ago, Mook said:

Or Ian Cameron

Yes get this aired on socials asap. No way they refusing to open case.

 

@Solly Moeng able to give this some air? 

[milky4130]

Rather dumb that he decided to report the kids now they have his contact details, but good for the law to run its course now.

[DieselnDust]

2 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

What a cowardly POS !

This is ripe for escalation to PPA for starters who should drive this to a charge of some sort . 

 

51 minutes ago, milky4130 said:

Rather dumb that he decided to report the kids now they have his contact details, but good for the law to run its course now.

Yip, when they have their day in court he will be found out for POS he is.