Partner instructed to clean accident scene
The City Times has approached the EMPD’s media liaison for more information regarding the incident, but no comment had been received at the time of going to print
Residents of Northmead have, for the past eight years, become used to seeing local beggar Mavis Janse van Rensburg on the corner of Oak and Hanekom streets in Northmead.
Her life tragically ended following an accident on September 1.
According to eyewitnesses, the 72-year-old Cloverdene resident was at her usual post when a double-link truck, transporting bricks, turned at the intersection.
“Mavis’ clothes must have hooked somewhere on the trailer, which resulted in her being dragged under the wheel of the turning truck,” said Robin Willemse, her life partner.
“Everything happened so fast. There was a commotion and then I saw Mavis. Her arm was severely injured and she was in a lot of pain.”
Emergency response units were called to the scene to assist.
“They told me that doctors at Tambo Memorial Hospital may not be able to save her arm but that urgent care is of the highest priority,” Willemse said.
With time being of the essence, he was getting ready to accompany Mavis to the hospital when EMPD officers allegedly instructed him to clean the road surface where the accident had happened.
“There was a lot of blood everywhere. An officer told Robin that before he could go anywhere, everything had to be cleaned up,” said Sharon Lahoud, an eyewitness and friend of the couple. “I thought they were joking.”
However, the officers allegedly remained adamant about the cleaning up of the road.
“People were handing me buckets of water to wash away the blood,” Willemse said.
“All I wanted was to be with Mavis but they would not let me leave.”
According to Lahoud, onlookers were left shocked watching Willemse, who had been severely traumatised, clean the accident scene as the ambulance left.
“It was inhumane and cruel,” she said.
Janse van Rensburg’s arm was amputated at the hospital, however, given the extent of her other injuries, she later died.
The City Times requested comment from the EMPD about the incident but none was received at the time of publication.
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