The attack on two cyclists in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, which resulted in the death of one of their assailants, has again turned the spotlight on the safety of cyclists on the roads of South Africa. It has also, yet again, brought into focus the supreme and seemingly global legal irony that, in defending themselves and their property, and, in the process, shooting dead one of their attackers, they have now been charged with murder. Scott (30) and Lloyd (31) Griffith are brothers, and the sons of Alan Griffith, one of the largest benefactors of pro team sponsorship in South African cycling. Both are enthusiastic cyclists. They were riding along a quiet and virtually deserted Boundary Road in Honeydew at around eight on Sunday morning when they were allegedly ambushed by a menacing group of around five or six people who made it quite clear that they wanted to steal their bicycles. The thieves were armed but so were the Griffith brothers, and one of the would-be “bike-jackers” was fatally wounded in the ensuing shoot-out. The Griffiths reported the incident to the Honeydew police station as soon as possible. At their appearance in the Randburg magistrate’s court on Monday morning they were charged with murder, but both released on their own cognizance and warned to appear again on September 26. “The whole thing has been a nightmare,” said Alan Griffith. “The prosecution even wanted both boys to be bailed for R5 000 each and to impound their passports. Fortunately the magistrate would have none of it and they have been released until the next court appearance,” added Griffith. “To have survived a potentially fatal shoot-out, and then face the prospect of being jailed with the very real possibility of being raped and contracting HIV is almost too much for anyone to face. That’s just one of the reasons why it’s all a nightmare,” he continued. It’s not enough that SA cyclists have to brave some of the world’s most aggressive traffic, but now they have to run the gauntlet of armed thieves and bike-jackers as well, and then face the ignominy of being arrested.
