The case of Nicholas Dlamini (with statements and reactions)
Dec 28 2019 05:59 am CET
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NTT Pro Cycling's Nicholas Dlamini was involved in an incident with the officials of the South African park of Table Mountain that finished with him having a fractured arm.
Early on the 27th of December, a video that showed rangers of the Table Mountain National Park of South Africa breaking the arm of Nicolas Dlamini (NTT Pro Cycling) started doing the rounds in social media. Hours later, his team confirmed that the rider had suffered a fracture in his left humerus as a result of the attack of the officials.
"I was both devastated and appalled to see the video of Nicholas on social media," said Douglas Ryder, Team Principal of NTT Pro Cycling. "To watch a young man who I know so well in such unnecessary distress made me feel sick, to be honest. The way in which he was treated is simply not acceptable."
The Communications office of the South African National Parks (SANParks) released a statement in which it said that Dlamini failed to show the entrance ticket to the park and resisted the arrest which ended up in a "situation that spiralled causing the suspect to injure himself during the ordeal."
Wtf @TableMountainNP @SANParks @VanHaywood. Someone just broke Nic Dlamini’s arm pic.twitter.com/oYQGiTNUPM
— Lawrence Lindeque (@larrymontana) December 27, 2019
Although the video is short and lacks all the situation that led to the South African's arrest, it shows that he wasn't being particularly resisting the actions of the officers at the moment that he was injured. The person that made the video -a cyclist friend of the rider- was also intimidated by the officials to stop with the recording.
The cycling community -including many South African professional riders- have reacted to these images with outrage and demands further consequences for the people that put at risk the health of a professional athlete -who was looking forward to continuing his development in 2020.
The men's and women's South African champions Daryl Impey and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio showed their opinions in social media:
Nic didnt deserve this . What a shame @SANParks . You should be very ashamed of yourselves. https://t.co/5UpCfU8Zb6
— Daryl Impey (@darylimpey) December 27, 2019
Very sad to see this. Disgusting behaviour by @SANParks officials. @nich_dlamini is one of the nicest guys I know ... he doesn't deserve this treatment! Wishing you a speedy recovery Nic ? https://t.co/UgWKAmKAg0
— Ashleigh Moolman (@ashleighcycling) December 27, 2019
As well as the South African Willie Smit (Burgos-BH) and Chris Froome (Ineos) -who spent several years living and studying in the country.
Assault a professional athlete. Break his arm. Go for the guy recording. Ask him if he gave permission to film them ? Wow. https://t.co/CnIB1B5Oed
— Willie Smit (@williesmurfy) December 27, 2019
Apparently @nich_dlamini “injured himself”. Appalling @TableMountainNP ? https://t.co/kITWXmAm90
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) December 27, 2019
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