LAWYER 'ATTACKED' BY SOLDAAT

A Cape Town attorney may pursue legal action against a soldaat who he claims attacked him

The lawyer says the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier damaged his vehicle, assaulted him and called him a “bastard” and has opened a case of common assault.

The attorney, whose name is known to the Cape Argus, and asked not to be identified for privacy, said his BMW X3 is currently in repairs after its alignment, rim and body were damaged, following an accident on Tuesday, 19 August 19 2025, in Church Street, Wynberg, involving himself and a soldier dressed in uniform.

Armed with video footage of the incident and that of the alleged assault, which he shared with the newspaper, the attorney said he also reported the incident to the SANDF as he was stationed at 2 Military Hospital in Wynberg.

In the video of the accident, which was taken from his dashcam, you can see the car moving forward after a vehicle struck it.

In the second video, which the attorney filmed shortly thereafter, while walking to the police station, the soldier is seen trying to take his cellphone.

“Don’t take my photo,” he (soldier) said, waving his hands in the direction of the attorney’s cellphone.

As the police vehicle stops, he says: "This bastard, he hit my car and now he is telling me, he is taking me to court.”

The attorney said he had just left his workplace and was driving his vehicle and joined the middle lane when the soldier apparently tried to overtake him and another vehicle, and then allegedly rammed into him.

“My car was parked on the road in Church Street and there was a robot at the end of the road and the traffic was moving very slowly,” he explained.

“The cars were driving very slowly and I swerved onto the middle lane to join the traffic.

“As I joined the traffic and into the road, I realised the man behind me was coming closer and closer, and he tried to squeeze between me and the car on the right hand side and he eventually hit my car and then he still drove further and he only came to a stop in his own time.

“I have a dashcam.”

The attorney claims the soldier was apprehensive in sharing his personal information for insurance purposes and that he also tried to evade going to the police station and allegedly assaulted him when he began filming him.

“He got out of his vehicle, he was a military guy in uniform and we started discussing the matter and I said I will need his details and insurance details," he detailed.

“My colleagues came out and I said we need to go to the police station to have an accident report done and he said fine, he will follow me.

“The walk up to the station was very confrontational, at a few points, he was even touching me and I said you cannot touch me.

“As we walked  past the courthouse towards the police station, he suddenly turned to me and said: "Are you now happy that we are going to the police over this? And do you really think you are really going to take me to court over this.

“I said of course I can, I do cases on a daily basis and he refused to walk further.

“I realised he was not walking and I wanted to take out my cellphone to make a recording of it, as he was in uniform.

“At that moment he hit me against the arm, and tried to grab my cellphone and I then started to make the recording.

“He again, as you can see in the video, he hit me against my arm while I was holding my phone.

“Luckily a police van arrived, and at that moment he walked up to the van and said:’ This bastard hit my car.

The attorney said he felt aggrieved and that he was now inconvenienced without a vehicle as it was sent for repairs.

“All of that in uniform, in public, in front of the court house and in front of police. And he is being funded by taxpayers. I did not receive any apology or any offer to fix the situation.”

Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed the case: “Be advised that the mentioned case number is a common assault case registered at Wynberg SAPS for investigation. Investigations continue with no arrest.

SANDF media liaison said in response to the incident “The SANDF can confirm that the member mentioned in your enquiry, is employed in the South African National Defence Force, however the matter mentioned in your enquiry are not known to the SANDF as the incident occurred outside the Military establishment and involves the civilian party. Further clarity in this regard can be sought from the relevant police station where the case was opened.”