Newzroom Afrika has placed news anchor Aldrin Sampear on immediate leave amid an internal investigation into a road rage incident last week.
The TV and radio presenter has been accused of allegedly assaulting and being “intimidating and aggressive” towards a 22-year-old woman.
NEWZROOM AFRIKA INVESTIGATES ALDRIN SAMPEAR
In a statement released on Tuesday, 22 April, Newzroom Afrika revealed that Aldrin Sampear had “taken a break from his broadcast duties with immediate effect, pending an internal review of he matter”.
The statement continued: “Newzroom Afrika takes the allegations very seriously and we will work swiftly to address the concerns raised”.
Last week, a video of Aldrin Sampear confronting university student Laricia Augusto went viral, following a “minor collision” in Randburg, Gauteng.
The incident turned into a full-blown road rage altercation.
In the clip, Aldrin repeatedly asked why the woman gave him the middle finger, while she questions why he allegedly assaulted him.
The woman told the Citizen, “He was screaming at me. I tried to defend myself, pointing out that what he did was deliberate road rage. I even told him there was more than enough space for him to have driven safely,”
According to reports, the woman has filed assault charges against Aldrin Sampear.
SPEAKING OUT ON GBV
In 2020, Aldrin Sampear made headlines during his then Power FM show after he admitted to being physically abusive to two ex-girlfriends.
The news presenter stated that he witnessed the violent behaviour from his father towards his mother. He also claimed that, like his mother, his exes “provoked” him into aggressiveness.
Shockingly, Aldrin claimed that he “outgrew” his abusive tendencies as he exercised his father’s ability to “hold back”.
Defending his decision to speak out, he posted on X [then Twitter] at the time: “We have been speaking to victims, rightfully so, to highlight GBV. The GBV rate tells us this is not enough. Do more in addition to this approach.
“One for me is, engage the abuser too, and it WILL anger people. But victim-offender dialogue that happens in prison must now become public”.
DO YOU THINK ALDRIN SAMPEAR SHOULD BE PROSECUTED OVER HIS ROAD RAGE INCIDENT?
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