A 'small mistake' by Madam Speaker led to a curious chain of events: two cars 'meeting' each other in a no-exit zone, a few harsh words, "extraordinary police intervention", breathalyser tests before noon, and a docket opened for the short-term insurance fellas…and perhaps, a few bruised egos, but we won't mention those.
The incident took place in the parking lot opposite Heatherpark Spar on Saturday 25 August somewhere between 10:45 and 11:30 (the two parties differ about the exact time).
Local resident, Don Alexander is a frail man, driving an old vehicle, which he describes as an 'old skedonk'.
"I approached the entrance to the parking lot when I saw a white Toyota Verso advancing straight towards me from a 'No-exit' sign and despite repeated efforts from me to get the driver to stop, she banged into the rear right of my car. I got out of the car and we had a few words." Alexander then told the driver, who happened to be George Speaker, Mercia Draghoender, that she was "a stupid woman".
You don't say that to Madam Speaker. Draghoender retaliated by accusing Alexander of "being drunk." He did not take too kindly to that. "Man, I'm 71 years old and it was 10:45 in the morning. She verbally attacked me and accused me of being under the influence of alcohol. I then told her she was at fault and a fool to ignore the sign." This Draghoender later admitted in a telephonic interview with the George Herald: "We all make mistakes. But the way he behaved?!"
According to Alexander, the Speaker then "climbed on her phone". "Within a few minutes, I was surrounded by several policemen and traffic officers. She then insisted that I undergo a breathalyser test in a public parking lot with several people watching. It was degrading." Alexander said that Draghoender was very intimidating and he accused her of abusing her position as Speaker.
"I cannot describe the humiliation. They did the breathalyser test and it showed a zero reading. I then had to repeat the test a few more times with the same result - zero alcohol in my blood. The whole ordeal lasted about 40 minutes in the public eye."
Alexander told us he apologised to Draghoender for calling her stupid. "I have an old skedonk and she has quite an expensive car. Why would I hit her car? Ignoring the sign just looked stupid to me."
Draghoender, though, paints a slightly different scenario. "Yes, I drove out of the parking lot through the 'No-exit' zone as I did not see the sign. So I was wrong - but we all make mistakes.
When we saw Mr Alexander's car approaching we immediately stopped. My car was stationary when he hit it with the rear right end of his old car. "Mr Alexander behaved as if he was under the influence, so I called the cops and asked them to perform a breathalyser test on him."
The Speaker said she also underwent one. "I'm not above the law. Anyway, there was a minor accident hence my request for the tests. Mr Alexander then apologised to me for calling me stupid. After the tests were concluded we all went to the police station to open a docket for insurance purposes. Mr Alexander then apologised to me again and we left it at that."
And that's the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth… Not really worth a skinder, or what do you think?
Local resident Don Alexander (right) shows journalist Hugo Redelinghuys the spot where his vehicle and that of the George Speaker, Mercia Draghoender, were involved in a minor accident.
ARTICLE: HUGO REDELINGHUYS, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
