Agreement after 13 years
2005-12-08
THIRTEEN years after a 21-year-old man was severely injured by a policeman’s bullet in Paarl, an agreement has been reached for the settlement of damages.
Abdul Rawoot of Cypress Avenue, New Orleans, was a passenger in the bakkie in which he and his friend Zahier Abrahams were fleeing from the police in the early hours of May 31, 1992.
According to papers before the Cape High Court two women had reported Abrahams and Rawoot following them in a blue bakkie through Wellington’s streets that night.
Police, suspecting the men were involved in criminal activities, gave chase.
Unsuccessful attempts, including the flashing of a blue light, a spotlight and an emergency roadblock, were made to stop the bakkie.
Sgt Stephanus van Zyl of Wellington then fired eighteen R5 and six pistol rounds at the tyres and the lower part of the bakkie.
Rawoot was hit in the head, his injuries leaving him brain damaged, with a speech impediment. Rawoot’s family sued the police for R2,3 million in damages.
According to Mohamed Salie, advocate representing the State, an agreement has been reached. The settlement figure should be known by March next year.
Abrahams had meanwhile moved to Cape Town while Sgt Van Zyl died of natural causes in 1995.
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