Speed freak showed no remorse, say police
Kuben Chetty
March 24 2005 at 04:39PM
Biker Johan Barkhuizen says he enjoyed the "thrill" of trying to outrun police at 275km/h while risking the lives of others on the road.
Already fined R31 000, authorities now want to seize his motorcycle.
His casual attitude and lack of remorse was described as "outrageous" by John Schnell, the director of the Provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate.
Joking around with traffic officers on Wednesday, the Tshwane businessman said he did it "strictly for the thrill".
'I was just out for a joyride'
Barkhuizen, 38, was eventually caught after leading cops on a 30-minute chase with his Kawasaki 1200.
He was taken to a roadside court in Park Rynie on Tuesday and fined R31 000 for evading police and driving at excessive speeds.
Yet Barkhuizen seemed unperturbed by the fine.
On Wednesday he even joked with some of the officers who had apprehended him - less than 24 hours after he had allegedly made gestures urging them to catch him.
"I was just out for a joyride and driving at speeds in excess of 300km/h gives me an incredible adrenaline rush.
'We have to stop this madness'
"I can push the bike to 300km/h in fifth gear but the next gear has a speed limiter which cuts down the speed." Schnell labelled Barkhuizen's reaction to the fine as being "absolutely outrageous".
"The fact that he had no registration plates on his bike and the licence disk in his pocket, gives us the indication he deliberately went out to flout the law.
"Out of all the people who have been caught speeding over the last six months, he should be top of the list to qualify for consideration by the Asset Forfeiture Unit," Schnell warned.
Earlier this week minister for transport, Bheki Cele, castigated "the bloody fools" who drove at excessive speeds on the province's roads, especially during holiday periods.
Cele said their actions played a major role in the holiday carnage which regularly claims the lives of many people.
Barkhuizen, on holiday in Scottburgh, was caught after the Park Rynie traffic department blocked off all traffic near Sezela on the N2.
"I was driving slowly hoping they wouldn't see me and when they stopped me, I just put my hands up."
The station commander in that area, Aboo Aboobaker, said that Barkhuizen was one of five bikers hauled in so far this year.
"Those with very fast motorbikes and cars think they can outrun us, but we are able to mobilise very quickly.
"Those who speed excessively are putting other people's lives at risk and we have to stop this madness," he said.
