Police publish Maxwele's confession, apology

JOHANNESBURG (Sapa) - The Cape Town student who gave President Jacob Zuma's blue light convoy the finger has apologised for his actions, the Police Ministry said on Thursday.

Chumani Maxwele had two criminal records, one for common assault, the other for riotous behaviour, both committed between 2007 and 2009, spokesman Zweli Mnisi said in a statement.

He made his apology under oath, voluntarily in a hand-written statement last Wednesday, the day of his arrest.

Maxwele and a friend were jogging during evening rush-hour along the M3 towards the University of Cape Town, when he gestured and "made a comment" directed at "cars making noise", his statement reads.

"With out anytime (sic) I saw a car of police stopping by my side, two mans (sic) came out shouting at me and they said: 'come, get in the car, you disrespect the President of the Republic of South Africa' and he said they arrest me for disrespecting the President.

"I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to the President of the Republic of South Africa Mr. Zuma for my bad manners during his transportation.

"I would like to apologise also to the people whom were accompanying the President of South Africa as well as to the police," he says.

Maxwele goes on to state he is "not a bad boy", but a disciplined member of his family, of the Woodstock community and the ANC Youth League.

Mnisi said according to Captain Sandisile Mafunda, commander of the officers that arrested Maxwele, he "was showing gestures with his right-hand with his middle finger pointing up-right (sic) with the remaining fingers folded, uttering the remarks towards the President's convoy saying 'fuck you Zuma... you are disrupting traffic.'"

The ministry had decided to make the statement public due to "misrepresentation" of the facts of the matter.

Mnisi dismissed claims Maxwele was "physically victimized" during his arrest, saying he would have been mentioned this in his affidavit.

Minister Nathi Mthethwa said in the statement: "Let us lay this matter to rest, as the person concerned has now apologised."

Mnisi could not be reached for comment on reports earlier on Thursday that Mthethwa had asked the Independent Complaints Directorate to investigate.

The Sowetan reported earlier this week that Maxwele was pushed into the bodyguards' car at gunpoint, had a bag pulled over his head, was held for just under 24-hours while agents interrogated him and apparently asked for the names of his friends and of his ANC branch chairman. He said his house was raided by plainclothes policemen while in custody. He was released before appearing in court.

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Confessions to the Police We are guided by what Madiba said in the dock, that: "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished . .more the ideal of a democratic and free society, in which all persons live together in harmony, and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for, and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die". . .less by Carl Wille on February 18 2010, 23:32 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

they just don't get it, do they. Even if Maxwele's confession is valid (highly questionable) his arrest is still illegal and would support a claim for unlawful arrest and detention. There is no law in this country that prohibits one from being disrespectful to the president of the . .more nation. In Zimbabwe there is such a law, and its seems that we converge on the standards of that hapless nation every day. . .less by Peter on February 18 2010, 23:38 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Are you disrespecting me Am I bovvered? Am I bovvered though? I ain't even bovvered! Don't tell me what to do, are you telling me what to do? Are you disrespecting me? Are you stupid? Why don't you shut up though? Shut up, then. I don't care though, I ain't bovvered! PS . .more - when a country's leader needs to use heavy handed bully boys to prevent people mocking him, you know we are well on the road to a third world dictatorship - respect by political leaders in most civilised countries has to be earned, not forced. . .less by Sad Days on February 18 2010, 23:48 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Bullies - with small winkies. Another stuff up. Another apology. Another lawsuite. Instead of proper governance and leadership. Bring me my machine gun... by Che on February 19 2010, 00:22 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

what a load of rubbish... President Zuma lied in an official document that he is married to Sonono Khoza. Now the officers of the law produce a badly written and incoherent document they claim to be an apology made voluntarily. Who are they kidding? by umAfrika on February 19 2010, 00:27 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What a disgraceful document! This just proves to the whole world that this is now a police state! Why should an apology have to be made under oath? Surely this smacks of something extracted under duress, and therefore not valid or binding in law? The document itself does not seem in . .more the least bit credible, and there is more than a faint suspicion that it is not what it purports to be. Mr. Maxwele may or may not have insulted the president or the presidential blue light cavalcade, but the police have certainly shamed South Africa in the eyes of the world by their brutish, arrogant, despicable, cowardly, and completely unlawful behaviour and contempt for the rule of law. . .less by Dr. Angelo Lambiris on February 19 2010, 06:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Pot calling the kettle black Zuma and his bullies have no room to get upset with this SA citizen expressing his disapproval of Zuma in the light of Zuma's behaviour to date. He demonstrates his lack of respect for every God fearing citizen in this country with his adulterous . .more behaviour, polygamy and war chants at meetings He is shameless and has no right to demand respect from anyone. Respect earrns respect. Beesides when last I heard this couintry has freedom of speech and there was no law outlawing the behaviour of this man. . .less by Cheryl on February 19 2010, 07:03 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Respect is earned Respect is earned .... so well done Maxwele's ...... Earn your respect Zuma Feed the poor House the poor Put Malema back into his box. by Five on February 19 2010, 07:42 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

University student's english? I doubt This statement must have been written by the police. Read it twice and notice the 'Rotten English'. by Kolaks on February 19 2010, 07:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

what a joke what an absolute total joke. written by an illiterate fool, summing up our police force, it does nothing to adress the violation of an individuals rights. by Realsit on February 19 2010, 09:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Pateties Not a single positive comment says it all. They just don't get it. by Jannie on February 19 2010, 10:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Flashing RED is life and death NOT Flashing Blue. Had Maxwele died of a heart attack in the car - what then? At one stage the government told me to take up a gun and hate black people; I didn't think it was a good idea, but I was young and dumb and did what I was . .more told... Till that is - when I knew better... Watch my finga now, I stand by what I believe in! . .less by Ad on February 19 2010, 11:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Déjà vu Yeah right!! a groveling apology with a 9mm stuck in your ear. This sounds like something out of the annuls of Uganda during the times of Idi Amin. Soon people like this who "disrespect" the Big Man will just disappear and their mutilated bodies will turn . .more up in a ditch a few weeks later. . .less by Airwolf on February 19 2010, 11:35 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What does Maxwele say? I have not seen any direct interviews with the man himself. Lets hear from him. by Alto on February 19 2010, 11:52 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Maxwele NEVER apologised! It's all lies! They used his original statment to try and sweep the whole mess under the carpet! Maxwele stated that he did not apologise! http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20100219112040669C131449 by Ruan on February 19 2010, 21:47 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Mr Maxwele's "Apology" I have sat and had a hour long face to face discussion with Mr Maxwele and I can assure you that the "apology" was given under severe duress. He was being held against his will after having having been bundled into an unmarked car by gun wielding gunmen . .more who refused to identify themselves. After several hours of questioning about his political affiliations, friends and associates and being moved thru 3 different locations he was told that they where willing to let him go but that first he had to "give then something" so they could let him go. That something was a written apology. It was made clear that without it they would continue to detain him. So please fellow citizens, no more talk about a heartfelt, willing and sincere apology because there was no such thing. Just police bully tactics to cover their butts. . .less by Cliff Smith on February 24 2010, 01:29 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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