Dlamini's broken arm could 'seriously effect' his 2020 Olympic dream
Cape Town - South African rider Nicolas Dlamini could miss next year's Tokyo Olympics after a SANParks official broke his arm in Cape Town on Friday.
According to News24, the incident occurred at the Silvermine section of the Table Mountain National Park and was caught on film by a fellow cyclist.
According to a press release from Dlamini's NTT Pro Cycling team, Dlamini waspulled off his bicycle at high speed, which saw him crash and then ultimately saw the incident become volatile.
The release saw the team express their shock at the incident and concern for the 24-year-old.
Dlamini wastaken to False Bay Hospital where x-rays were carried out and it was confirmed that he suffered a fracture of his left humerus.
According to the press release, he has since been transferred to another hospital where further specialist consultation will take place together with NTT Pro Cycling's team medical department.
They will decide on the next course of action to treat the injury.
Wtf @TableMountainNP @SANParks @VanHaywood. Someone just broke Nic Dlamini’s arm pic.twitter.com/oYQGiTNUPM
— Lawrence Lindeque (@larrymontana) December 27, 2019
This is a major setback for Dlamini, who had been out on a training ride ahead of a hugely promising 2020 season.
This injury will now have a serious effect on his chances of racing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dlamini was part of adelegation that travelled to Tokyo and spent some time on the Olympic Road Race course in the hopes of realising a dream and being selected for South Africa at the 2020 Games.
" NTT Pro Cycling would like to be clear that we fully condemn violence in any form and are all highly distressed to see our team-mate treated in this manner ," read the press release.
The South African cycling team called that SANParks to urgently issue a public apology for fracturing his arm and causing the rider " visible distress ".
NTT Pro Cycling also called on SANParks to " implement immediate disciplinary procedures against the officials involved ".
"I was both devastated and appalled to see the video of Nicholas on social media. 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," said Team Principal,Douglas Ryder.
- Compiled by Lynn Butler
Update I:
JUST IN: Minister Barbara Creecy instructs SANParks to suspend officials who were involved in scuffle with top cyclist Nic Dlamini
Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy says she has instructed SANParks to suspend the officers who were involved in the incident which left South African rider Nicolas Dlamini with a broken arm on Friday.
Creecy was speaking to News24 on Friday evening shortly after she visited the cyclist in hospital to hear the turn of events directly from him.
In a video widely shared on social media, four rangers can be seen aggressively trying to shove Dlamini into the back of a van.
"I had the opportunity to visit Nic at the hospital where he is undergoing treatment. I have instructed SANParks, the chairperson and senior management of SANParks to suspend the officers who were involved in this incident.
"I have also instructed them to undertake an independent investigation so that we can have the full facts," Creecy said.
She added once the investigation was concluded, necessary steps would be taken.
News24 reported earlier that the matter was under investigation, with SANParks obtaining statements from the rangers who were involved in the scuffle as well as Dlamini.
Creecy said while all the facts were yet to be obtained, from what she had seen in the circulating video clip, it appeared that the officers "behaved in a highly inappropriate manner". Western Cape Premier Alan Winde had also visited Dlamini in hospital. He said the circumstances surrounding the incident required an urgent full investigation and that there should be consequences for the "heavy-handedness" which the officials reacted in the situation.
"Their aggression was evident not only in their attitude toward Nic Dlamini, but also towards other cyclists on the scene who recorded incident.
"No matter what the circumstances, there is no excuse for this kind of reaction," Winde said.
The premier added that the incident had revealed the fractured relationship between the cycling community and SANParks and said his office would be establishing a round table discussion in a bid to repair the relationship.
"This incident undermines Brand South Africa, at a time where our economy can ill-afford further damage to our brand and our tourism economy."
In a statement, Dlamini's cycling team, NTT Pro Cycling, said following the incident, the 24-year-old was taken to False Bay Hospital where X-rays were taken, and it was confirmed that he had suffered a fracture of his left humerus. He was then transferred to another hospital for further specialist consultation, they said.
Update pic.twitter.com/Wi4vnjVldW
— Lawrence Lindeque (@larrymontana) December 27, 2019
The cycling team said it condemned any form of violence and was highly distressed to see one of its teammate treated in the manner that he was.
The team has also called on SANParks to, among others, implement immediate disciplinary procedures against the officials involved and issue afull public apology to both Nicholas, as well as the eyewitness, whom it says were "clearly intimidated by the officials while filming this incident".
"I was both devastated and appalled to see the video of Nicolas on social media. 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," NTT Pro Cycling team principal Douglas Ryder said.
Update II:
Witness says Dlamini didn't resist being detained by SANParks officials
A witness who filmed Friday's altercation in which cyclist Nicholas Dlamini's arm was broken says the rider was not aggressive towards SANParks officers.
Donovan le Cok said in a statement that he got to the scene when Dlamini was already off his bike.
"What they had done is, it’s a downhill to the exit and they sort of jumped out and grabbed his handlebar to make him stop which made him fall, obviously. Nic was quite upset, he was hurt and his bike was damaged."
"At that point there was a heated discussion with the head ranger, Nic wasn’t aggressive towards him, trying to get away or resisting being detained. The guy just laid into, turned him around, and twisted his arm high above his head," Le Cok said.
He detailed how he had to stop filming the altercation, as he said that the rangers were trying to grab his phone.
Le Cok's video has been widely shared on social media. In itfour rangers can be seen aggressively trying to shove Dlamini into the back of a van.
During the scuffle you can hear the sound of what appears to be Dlamini's arm breaking after a ranger attempts to place Dlamini's arms behind his back.
Following the incident Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy instructed SANParks to suspend the officers involved.
"I had the opportunity to visit Nic at the hospital where he is undergoing treatment. I have instructed SANParks, the chairperson and senior management of SANParks to suspend the officers who were involved in this incident.
"I have also instructed them to undertake an independent investigation so that we can have the full facts," Creecy said.
News24 reportedearlier that the matter was under investigation, with SANParks obtaining statements from the rangers who were involved in the scuffle as well as Dlamini.
Creecy said while all the facts were yet to be obtained, from what she had seen in the circulating video clip, it appeared that the officers "behaved in a highly inappropriate manner".
In a statement, Dlamini's cycling team, NTT Pro Cycling, said following the incident, the 24-year-old was taken to False Bay Hospital where X-rays were taken, and it was confirmed that he had suffered a fracture of his left humerus. He was then transferred to another hospital for further specialist consultation.
Update III:
Cyclist Nicholas Dlamini in recovery following surgery
Popular cyclist Nicholas Dlamini is out of surgery and recovering in hospital after his arm was broken during a scuffle with South African National Parks (SANParks) officials, a friend tweeted on Saturday afternoon.
Sven Thiele posted a picture of Dlamini, who was accosted by five SANParks officials on Friday at the Silvermines Section of the Table Mountain National Park.
"He is out of surgery but super, super tired…but also totally humbled by all the massive support and love out there," he tweeted.
Dlamini's cycling club, NTT Pro Cycling earlier in the day thanked the public for their support saying he was in a Cape Town hospital.
"We want to thank everyone for their messages of support."
SanParks announced that the five Table Mountain rangers involved in the scuffle were since placed on precautionary suspension.
SANParks acting CEO Lize McCourt, said the five were on precautionary suspension pending the finalisation of the investigation.
McCourt expressed regret at the turn of events and assured the public that the organisation is taking the matter seriously and "will afford Mr Dlamini and his family all the necessary support at this stage".
A video of the incident was widely shared on social media platforms.
In it, four rangers can be seen aggressively trying to shove Dlamini into the back of a van. During the scuffle you can hear the sound of what appears to be Dlamini's arm breaking after a ranger attempts to place Dlamini's arms behind his back.
After visiting Dlamini in hospital, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy instructed SANParks to suspend the officers involved.
SANParks is also in the process of appointing an independent service provider to conduct a preliminary investigation following the incident.
