Official Statement from @DonovanLeCok who witnessed the attack on @nich_dlamini by @SANParks officials today -
1/1
I got to the scene just at the point where the SANParks Official had knocked Nicholas off of his bike to check his permit.
1/1
I got to the scene just at the point where the SANParks Official had knocked Nicholas off of his bike to check his permit.
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/2
What they had done is, it’s a downhill to the exit, and they sort of jumped out and grabbed his handlebar to make him stop which made him fall obviously.
What they had done is, it’s a downhill to the exit, and they sort of jumped out and grabbed his handlebar to make him stop which made him fall obviously.
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/3
Nick was quite upset, he was hurt and his bike was damaged, it is quite a shocking thing to encounter when someone tries to grab you off of your bike, something that a criminal does rather than a park ranger.
Nick was quite upset, he was hurt and his bike was damaged, it is quite a shocking thing to encounter when someone tries to grab you off of your bike, something that a criminal does rather than a park ranger.
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/4
At that point there was a heated discussion with the head ranger, Nick wasn’t aggressive towards him, trying to get away or resisting being detained. The guy just laid into, turned him around, and twisted his arm high above his head
At that point there was a heated discussion with the head ranger, Nick wasn’t aggressive towards him, trying to get away or resisting being detained. The guy just laid into, turned him around, and twisted his arm high above his head
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/5
You can hear in the video his arm snap and crack, at which point Nick was just screaming saying my arm’s broken, my arms broken. They just proceeded to throw him into the back of a van, all the while he is still shouting my arm is broken.
You can hear in the video his arm snap and crack, at which point Nick was just screaming saying my arm’s broken, my arms broken. They just proceeded to throw him into the back of a van, all the while he is still shouting my arm is broken.
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/6
I had then stopped filming as the rangers were becoming aggressive towards me, they were grabbing at my phone and my hand, so I thought rather than lose my phone and lose the footage, I would just stop recording and put my phone in my pocket.
I had then stopped filming as the rangers were becoming aggressive towards me, they were grabbing at my phone and my hand, so I thought rather than lose my phone and lose the footage, I would just stop recording and put my phone in my pocket.
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/7
The rangers were all very aggressive to me afterwards as well, I just wanted to check that Nick was ok. I was able to shout to Nick through the van windows to try make sure he was alright and to let him know I would do what I could to help him.
The rangers were all very aggressive to me afterwards as well, I just wanted to check that Nick was ok. I was able to shout to Nick through the van windows to try make sure he was alright and to let him know I would do what I could to help him.
@DonovanLeCok @nich_dlamini @SANParks 1/8
As I was up in the mountain with no signal, I cycled back down as was able get the footage out as soon as I had signal!
As I was up in the mountain with no signal, I cycled back down as was able get the footage out as soon as I had signal!
