An advocate who swore at a Western Cape High Court judge in open court says he was drunk when he told Judge Lee Bozalek: “Jou ma se p***, f*** you.” I wish we could have mentioned that this was an April fool joke- but it is not so!
In an interview with the Cape Argus in his Ravensmead home on Wednesday, Nehemiah Ballem said he did not regret his outburst.
What has lead to the outburst?
Explaining the events leading up to his attack on the judge, Ballem yesterday said his car broke down in Gordon’s Bay on Friday.
When he realised he would not make it to court on time for an appeal he had before Judge Bozalek and Judge Shanaaz Mia, he contacted his secretary to ask her to explain his situation to Judge Bozalek.
He said he didn’t know how long it would take for the car to be sorted out, so he asked his secretary to request that the matter be postponed or removed from the roll.
Ballem said that because he didn’t expect to go to court, he started drinking a pack of Smirnoff Storm in his car while he waited for help to arrive.
But later, his secretary called him to say that Judge Bozalek was prepared to wait for him until 2.30pm.
By the time he arrived at the court building in the city centre, he said, he was drunk. [Info from Cape Argus]
Are you frustrated by Vehicle Recovery?
Many road users have been frustrated in recent years by vehicle recovery operators. Not necessarily at the time of the accident – but later when receiving a very sizable bill for vehicle storage!
On the Arrive Alive website we have made available a rather comprehensive section on Vehicle Recovery and Road Safety.
We would like to urge vehicle owners to view the advice and suggestions on how to protect themselves in the event that there vehicle has to be towed away.
This could help them to stay away from taking a few strong drinks – and the possible resulting behaviour of swearing etc…!!!
Also view:
• Vehicle Recovery and Road Safety