Winnie Mandela embroiled in speeding dispute
By DPA, IANSWednesday, January 12, 2011
JOHANNESBURG - A white police officer is under investigation after stopping Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, for recklessly weaving through traffic at speeds of 150 km per hour, according to South African media reports Wednesday.
The policeman told the Beeld newspaper he had not recognised the driver “since she had white powder all over her face and looked much older than when I’d last seen her”.
The occupants of the car had refused to identify themselves.
Odendaal said the police were forced to chase her tinted-windows Audi for five kilometres before pulling her over.
Warrant Officer Jannie Odendaal quoted Mandela as then saying to him: “Who the f*** do you think you are.”
“A man jumped out and yelled: ‘We are not in the era of apartheid any more’,” Odendaal said.
The man appeared to be one of Mandela’s bodyguards. According to Odendaal, he bumped him on the chest.
The policeman and his colleague have since been transferred to other police departments until an internal investigation is completed.
Colonel Neville Malila, police spokesperson, said a complaint of pointing a firearm and intimidation was being investigated.
