A Mamelodi Sundowns soccer star was among 31 motorists arrested for speeding on Gauteng’s roads at the weekend.
According to the Gauteng Department of Community Safety, the individuals were netted during a “special high-speed operation” conducted by the Gauteng Traffic Police’s High-Speed Unit.
The motorists were arrested for driving at speeds ranging from 161km/h to 219km/h.
The unnamed 32-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns player was nabbed on Sunday morning on the N1 in Midrand for travelling at an average speed of 180km/h in a 120km/h zone.
“The soccer player was caught in his Silver Toyota Quest. He claimed that he was rushing back home to Roodepoort after dropping off a friend in Centurion,” the department said in a statement.
“He was arrested on the spot and taken to the Midrand Police Station where he was formally charged with reckless driving and an alternative charge of exceeding the speed limit of 120km/h on a freeway.”
The player was granted bail of R1500 and will be appearing in the Midrand Magistrate’s Court soon.
The highest speed recorded for the weekend was on the N1 North of Pretoria where a driver of an Audi Q5 was caught doing 219km/h. The driver claimed he was speeding because his father was admitted to hospital in Polokwane but this could not be confirmed.
The department encouraged drivers to adhere to the rules of the road.
"Reckless driving and excessive speeding is one of the major contributors of fatal crashes in the province,” the Department’s Ofentse Morwane said.
“The Gauteng Traffic Police and the other law enforcement agencies will continue to deal decisively with those who do not adhere to the rules of the road particularly given the high rate of fatalities that the province continue to experience,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za
