It is the first time the South African has spoken since the incident having undergone surgery to correct his broken arm and keep his hopes of riding at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo alive.
Dlamini was set to start his 2020 season in Australia with a ride in the Tour Down Under but he now could be sidelined for many months as he recovers from his injury.
In a message on Facebook, the 24-year-old thanked everyone who had reached out to him while also providing an update on his health.
"This has been an extremely upsetting experience and your support means a lot to me,” Dlamini said.
Source: Facebook
“I am overwhelmed by the support offered by everyone at home and around the world, especially from the world of cycling.
“My first step was to undergo surgery and I am told that this went well, but the surgeon is unable to make a prognosis at this early stage. So, for the moment, I am unable to say when I’ll be back on a bike. My surgeon and the care team will be liaising with the NTT team doctor to establish this.”
Rated as South Africa’s top road Cyclist, Dlamini was training at the Silvermine section of Table Mountain National Park on December 27 when he was stopped at the side of the road and then forcibly seized by a SANParks ranger.
Footage of the incident circulated on social media showing Dlamini being pushed against the ranger’s van before his arm was twisted behind his back until an audible ‘snap’ can be heard.
He revealed he has yet to submit a statement to police but would be doing so as soon as his health allowed it.
Dlamini’s has called on international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, who are also handling fellow South African athlete Caster Semenya’s case against world athletics governing body IAAF, to lead his case against SANParks.
“I need to receive expert care and physio at hospital or rest at home until I’m well enough to leave and make a statement to the police,” he said.
“I am not sure yet when this will be, but for now things are a little uncomfortable and I am still coming to terms with what happened
“I will be taking legal advice on the next steps from Norton Rose Fulbright, and for this reason I hope you can understand why I cannot give any more detail to anyone at this stage. I look forward to giving you more detail as soon as I can.”
NTT Pro Cycling have also hit out at SANParks demanding immediate action be taken.
"NTT Pro Cycling would like to be clear that we fully condemn violence in any form and are all highly distressed to see our teammate treated in this manner," the team wrote in a public statement," read a statement from the team.
"The 24-year-old had just completed a very promising 2019 which included his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana, and he was looking at following that up with further participation in some of the sport’s biggest races in 2020.
"This unnecessary injury will now have a serious effect on that, as well as his chances of racing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games."
