Gareth Cliff feels 'really stupid'

Cape Town - Shock jock Gareth Cliff says he feels "really stupid" after his arrest in Pretoria on Tuesday after he was caught speeding at 182km/h in Pretoria.

Cliff was interviewed on his own 5FM breakfast show on Wednesday morning, which was hosted by stand-in DJ Rob Vember.

Cliff explained that he had been driving home from OR Tambo airport after filming Idols in Durban, hit the R21 and was pulled over by the cops who had clocked him driving at 182km/h.

'These things happen'

When asked by Vember why he was going at that speed, Cliff replied: "No one goes, 'Oh I feel like going at 182' unless they're the late Lolly Jackson. It was completely stupid and unnecessary and spent my evening with administration which I really didn't need to have to go through and I feel really stupid for having done it in the first place.

"I didn't mean to drive that fast, I didn't realise I was. But what can you do? These things happen I suppose. It's very irritating."

Speaking about the rumours that he had spent the night in jail and that he had received preferential treatment by the police, Cliff said: "I suppose when people recognise your name they're in fact more likely to make an example of you than give you special treatment."

He also praised the police for their professionalism in handling his case.

"I think the police did a very good job and I didn't at any stage feel unsafe," he told his 5FM listeners.

"I didn't feel that there was anyone there who didn't know what they were doing in the police and I have to give them, begrudgingly obviously, congratulations for a job well done."

Addressing the criticism he has received from people since the news of his arrest broke: "I see a lot of people on Facebook and Twitter getting all moral and pious and sanctimonious and I'd just like to remind them that this is not something you go out of your way to break laws for.

'Understand the seriousness of the situation'

"It's something that happens when you're driving along the highway, you're tired and you want to go home. If you don't think that's an excuse then I don't particularly care.

I'm not trying to get into anyone's good books here. I have broken the law and I must face the consequences."

Cliff is due to make an appearance at the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

When asked by Rob Vember how he felt about the jibes directed at the notoriously loose-lipped personality, Cliff replied: "There's a huge difference between taking yourself seriously and taking a situation seriously and I don't take myself seriously as some people seem to think I do so I am going to find a way to laugh at this because I do completely understand the seriousness of the situation.

"There is a distinction between the two which only an idiot would miss."

Cliff also confirmed that he will be back on air to host his 5FM show on Thursday morning.

He is also set to take part in Wednesday's Cosatu mass worker strike.

Listen to Gareth Cliff talking about his arrest at 2OceansVibe.