While criminal court is expected to drag on in the #BlueLightMafia case, Action Society announced that the legal team it appointed to assist the driver of the Volkswagen Polo who was seriously injured in the #BlueLightMafia attack, are ready to serve court papers on Police minister, Bheki Cele and the National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, Sehlahle Fannie Masemola to claim damages in the sum of R1.15 million.
The #BlueLightMafia eight appeared in Court 11 at the Randburg Regional court this morning, but the case was postponed to 9 November for further investigation. Two cellphone records were still outstanding, as well as statements. Meanwhile, the Council for accused 1 and 5 excused himself from the case and a new Council from the Johannesburg Bar was appointed.
According to Ian Cameron, Director of community safety at action Society, the amount that will be claimed in civil court consist past hospital and medical expenses of R50 000, future hospital, medical and related costs of R100 000 and general damages of R1 million for pain, suffering, inconvenience, disability, loss of amenities of life, physical scarring, disfigurement, emotional disturbance, shock and psychological trauma, which amount is claimed as a globular claim, it not being practical to allocate separate amounts to each of these factors respectively.
According to Cameron the amount of civil claims against the police is shocking. “According to the police’s latest annual report, Saps faced 13,000 new civil claims in 2021/2022, and had to pay out more than R470 million for close to 5,000 civil claims during the period. With Bheki Cele trying to get more control over the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), civil claims against the police are expected to rise.”
