Mpumalanga's MEC for human settlements and two of his bodyguards were shot at, then robbed by men driving a car with a flashing blue light last night, police said today. Captain Leonard Hlathi said the MEC, Madala Masuku, was travelling at the offramp for Bapsfontein near Delmas around 8.15pm, when a silver grey BMW five series came up behind them, with blue lights flashing, signalling for them to stop. Masuku's car also had a flashing blue light, and his driver ignored what was happening and kept driving. "They fired a shot through the MEC's car and the driver then brought the car to a standstill," said Hlathi. After that, three men from the BMW, dressed in the blue police uniform, approached the MEC's vehicle and claimed they were looking for drugs and "other unlawful things". "The MEC introduced himself and said he was an MEC, he was carrying no drugs, and that he was with his two bodyguards," continued Hlathi. The men said they would take the MEC and the bodyguards to a police station and verify their identities, but in the meantime, took away six cellphones, a bodyguard's firearm and the car keys. They later handed back the cellphones and fled the scene with the car keys and the firearm. They drove off in the direction of Johannesburg. Hlathi said the police hoped that anyone who may be able to provide information on the matter would pass this on to police. Masuku's spokesman was not immediately available to comment but Hlathi said the three were not physically hurt during the shooting. Police have not linked it to other potentially politically motivated incidents in the province and the possible existence of a "hit list". Victor Mlimi, a deputy director in the Mpumalanga department of human settlements, was recently charged with fraud, forgery and uttering along with Sunday Times reporter Mzilikazi wa Afrika. Wa Afrika was in possession of a letter of resignation purportedly from the province's premier, David Mabuza. The charges against Wa Afrika and Mlimi were withdrawn on September 8. Hlathi thought yesterday's incident was "just mischief". "Blue light gangs", groups of people who take the appearance of police officers to get people to pull over to rob them, are not uncommon in South Africa.

Mpumalanga's MEC for human settlements and two of his bodyguards were shot at, then robbed by men driving a car with a flashing blue light last night, police said today. Captain Leonard Hlathi said the MEC, Madala Masuku, was travelling at the offramp for Bapsfontein near Delmas around 8.15pm, when a silver grey BMW five series came up behind them, with blue lights flashing, signalling for them to stop.

Masuku's car also had a flashing blue light, and his driver ignored what was happening and kept driving. "They fired a shot through the MEC's car and the driver then brought the car to a standstill," said Hlathi.

After that, three men from the BMW, dressed in the blue police uniform, approached the MEC's vehicle and claimed they were looking for drugs and "other unlawful things". "The MEC introduced himself and said he was an MEC, he was carrying no drugs, and that he was with his two bodyguards," continued Hlathi. The men said they would take the MEC and the bodyguards to a police station and verify their identities, but in the meantime, took away six cellphones, a bodyguard's firearm and the car keys. They later handed back the cellphones and fled the scene with the car keys and the firearm. They drove off in the direction of Johannesburg. Hlathi said the police hoped that anyone who may be able to provide information on the matter would pass this on to police.

Masuku's spokesman was not immediately available to comment but Hlathi said the three were not physically hurt during the shooting.

Police have not linked it to other potentially politically motivated incidents in the province and the possible existence of a "hit list". Victor Mlimi, a deputy director in the Mpumalanga department of human settlements, was recently charged with fraud, forgery and uttering along with Sunday Times reporter Mzilikazi wa Afrika. Wa Afrika was in possession of a letter of resignation purportedly from the province's premier, David Mabuza. The charges against Wa Afrika and Mlimi were withdrawn on September 8.

Hlathi thought yesterday's incident was "just mischief". "Blue light gangs", groups of people who take the appearance of police officers to get people to pull over to rob them, are not uncommon in South Africa.

SOurce: The New Age

Blue light victim to sue cops

The Cape Town man who was arrested for gesturing at President Jacob Zuma's blue light convoy is pressing ahead with a damages claim against the police, his lawyer said on Thursday. "This claim will be instituted in the high court and counsel has been briefed accordingly," said Port Elizabeth attorney Neil O'Brien. He also said the student, Chumani Maxwele, had been told by police to make a written apology to Zuma, and had not done so voluntarily.

Maxwele was arrested on February 10 by members of Zuma's VIP protection unit after gesturing - according to police, with his middle finger - at the convoy as it passed him on a Cape Town road. He was held overnight and released without being charged. Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa later released a sworn statement in which Maxwele apologised to Zuma and the police. However, O'Brien said that according to Maxwele, the "apology" was written on the instruction of a member of the police at the Mowbray police station. This was while he was still in detention, and after he had been denied the opportunity to contact an attorney. "Our client was told by the said member to write anything that would justify his release, and was promised that he would then be detained only for a few more hours," O' Brien said. "Our client was further told to insert at the end of the letter the following apology, to facilitate his release: 'Mr President JG Zuma, without any conditions attached, I apologise to you as well as to the Republic of South Africa'."

O'Brien said that for a charge of crimen injuria against Zuma to stand, Zuma himself would have to have been aware of and offended by Maxwele's behaviour. "In light of the fact that the president has denied any knowledge of the incident, there can be no question of any impairment of his dignity." Maxwele denied having criminal "records" for common assault and riotous behaviour. Though he had been charged with those offences, both charges were withdrawn.

Maxwele also denied pointing his middle finger at the president's convoy. "Our client merely waved the convoy on in response to the noise made by them," O'Brien said.