A 16 year-old teenager behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf 7 was caught doing speeds in excess of 200 km/h in the early hours of Sunday, 23 May 2021 in Cape Town. A Ghost Squad officer in an unmarked cruiser spotted the Golf 7 travelling at high speeds along Jan Smuts Drive in the direction of Grassy Park.
The City of Cape Town has not confirmed what Volkswagen Golf 7 was being driven specifically, but given the excess speed of 200 km/h, we can assume that it was either a GTI or an R.
As reported by the officer, the 16 year-old driver disobeyed several red traffic lights and refused to stop. This prompted the officer to call for back-up which allowed for the vehicle to be stopped at Old Strandfontein and Ottery Road.
“To the officers’ dismay, the driver was a very young man, who informed them that he had just turned 16 the day before. He had five passengers in the vehicle, all around the age of 15. It also turned out that the driver had taken his brother’s new car without permission.
“I shudder to think of the potential tragedy that could have unfolded here. This was no joyride, but reckless endangerment and I hope that it’ll be a lesson to everyone concerned. Also, the fact that these teenagers were out past curfew is another concern, particularly given the current resurgence we are experiencing,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The City of Cape Town confirms that the teenager was released back into his father’s care.
Over the week, officers throughout Cape Town arrested 90 suspects, including 51 for driving under the influence of alcohol and 27 for reckless and negligent driving. The also impounded 164 vehicles, 198 cell phones and issued 68 270 fines. In general, the City’s enforcement agencies made 202 arrests and issued 75 087 fines.
