“I Am a Mere Human”: Matlosana MMC Apologises After Drunk Driving Arrest Caught on Video

A viral video doesn’t lie. It shows the scuffle, the resistance, the chaotic arrest. And for Wesley Kgang, the ANC MMC for Economic Development in the Matlosana Municipality, it has become a very public record of a very bad Saturday morning. Now, facing a slate of serious charges, he has issued a public apology, admitting his “fallibility” in a case that has sparked outrage across the North West.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of Saturday in Klerksdorp. According to police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane, traffic officers spotted a black vehicle driving against oncoming traffic in Leask Street. When a female officer pulled the driver over, she suspected he was under the influence. That driver was Councillor Kgang.

From Traffic Stop to Violent Confrontation

What should have been a routine procedure quickly escalated. Police allege that when informed of his arrest, Kgang became aggressive and attacked the female officer. As other officials intervened, the situation spiralled, culminating in a physical struggle captured in a now widely-shared social media clip. The video shows Kgang being forcefully placed into a traffic department vehicle as he resists.

The drama didn’t end there. En route to a medical facility for a mandatory blood draw, Kgang allegedly hit and shattered the window of the police vehicle. The female officer sustained an injury to her left hand during the altercation.

A Public Apology and a Court Appearance

Following his appearance in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Kgang took to Facebook to address the furor. “I have noted the video that has gone viral,” he wrote, acknowledging the “great concern” it rightly caused given his position.

“I wish to unreservedly apologise to the community of Matlosana, my family and my organisation for the unfortunate occurrence,” the statement continued. Striking a penitent tone, he added, “No-one is above the law including myself… I am a mere human being like anyone else with fallibility which I take full responsibility for.”

The Charges and the Community’s Reaction

His apology now forms part of the backdrop to a serious legal battle. Kgang faces a litany of charges: drunk driving, assault, crimen injuria, malicious damage to property, and resisting arrest. The case has deepened public cynicism at a time when trust in public officials is fragile.

Online reaction has been largely unsympathetic, with many social media users questioning the sincerity of the apology and calling for his immediate resignation. The phrase “mere human being” in particular has drawn criticism, with commentators arguing that the standards for those in public office must be higher, especially when alleged actions include violence against law enforcement.

The ANC in the North West has yet to make a formal statement on whether internal disciplinary steps will follow the legal process. For now, the video remains the defining image of the incidenta stark reminder of a morning where poor decisions led to a very public fall from grace.