The student who was arrested for allegedly flipped the bird at President Zuma’s motorcade, may reach an out-of-court settlement.
|||Cape Town - UCT student Chumani Maxwele, who sued the Minister of Police for just over R1.4 million for wrongful arrest, has entered into discussions with lawyers for the police ministry about a possible out-of-court settlement.
Maxwele took the matter to court claiming he was arrested and abused by the police for allegedly showing his middle finger to President Jacob Zuma’s motorcade while jogging on the M3, near UCT, in February 2010.
In his court action, Maxwele said he was bundled into a police VIP protection vehicle, hooded and had his hands tied behind his back.
He said he was kept in custody for 24 hours and interrogated by intelligence agents. He claimed he was forced under duress to write a letter of apology to Zuma.
Maxwele wanted R800 000 for damage to his reputation for statements made by a police ministry spokesman, R200 000 for defamation after the police questioned the woman supervising his sociology research at UCT, R200 000 for the “unlawful” search of his home, R200 000 for wrongful arrest and insult to his dignity, and R50 000 for assault after the police bound his hands with cable-ties and put a bag over his head.
The police ministry admits a “rifle bag” was placed over his head and that his hands were cable-tied.
jade.otto@inl.co.za
Cape Argus