The father of a quad biker, filmed beating up an elderly man in a suspected road rage incident in Port Elizabeth, claims the man who was later hospitalised as a result of his injuries had started the fight.
Louwrens du Toit, 26, was arrested by Port Elizabeth Flying Squad members on Sunday morning after police arrived at his Colleen Glen family home and his mother handed him over to the officers.
He faces a charge of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and is expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
In the video filmed by a woman motorist who happened to be driving past at the time, a young man can be seen seemingly beating up another man in the middle of Verdun Avenue, Lorraine.
The incident occurred just before 4pm on Friday and, while vehicles can be seen driving past, no-one stops to assist.
The video, which does not capture the whole incident or the moments leading up to the fight, also shows a white Volkswagen Polo parked on the verge of the busy road.
After allegedly pushing and punching the man several times, Du Toit walks away, leaving the complainant lying in the street, then climbs on his blue quad bike and drives off.
The man then stumbles to his vehicle, the Polo, and seemingly leans on it for support.
The footage caused outrage on social media when it went viral at the weekend.
The man, 67, was admitted to hospital as a result of his injuries and the police recorded a case on his behalf.
Du Toit’s father, Jaco, said his son had already been released from custody.
Jaco, the chair of Farm Comm PE, a community-based policing forum, said the family would report a counter-case of attempted murder against the man because he “nearly drove over my son”.
“No-one just stops and attacks an old guy. Something triggered it.
“The video does not show everything that happened,” the father said, adding that their family had been insulted and threatened on social media.
Jaco said the driver of the Polo had used his vehicle as a weapon and even followed Du Toit onto the pavement allegedly to try to drive over him.
He alleged that the man had dealt the first blow and had hit Du Toit several times.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the injured man had required medical attention and was admitted to hospital.
Many social media users questioned why motorists had not stopped to assist, while others criticised the person filming the incident.
Nikeeta Ward wrote: “Wow, I am totally disgusted that no-one stopped and tried to stop the fight.
“Even if they didn’t know why the fight started ...
“To see so many cars just drive by, shame on you.”
Vincent Botha said: “What a cowardly young man, no matter the circumstances, to beat an old man doesn’t say much of his character.”