Accident claims young child
Tragedy struck a family in Phagameng as their young child died this week after he was hit by a police van.
The eight-year-old Mphonyana Molwantwa was crossing the road with his mother, Johanna, when the accident happened on the R101 near the reservoir on Tuesday, March 5.
Thomas Maluleke and Jimmy Phagadi, who sell magwenya (vetkoek) beside the road, saw the accident from their shop.
“Johanna had one child on her back and held two other children by their hands. Just as they were about to cross the road Mphonyana let go of her hand and stepped into the road where he was hit by the van,” said Maluleke. “Johanna had tried to pull him out of harm’s way, but wasn’t able to succeed,” he said.
According to the eyewitnesses, the van veered off the road and came to a stop several meters further. Mphonyana died on the scene.
When Die Pos arrived on the scene, the driver was already taken away.
As traffic officials, ambulance personnel, and bystanders were waiting for the police to arrive, Johanna sat crying next to the road with her baby on her lap. She was being comforted by friends.
According to Maluleke, her family lost two family members late last year and Mphonyana’s death comes as an added shock.
Bystanders said that the van was going too fast for an area like this where many people and animals were crossing the road. They believe measures to slow down traffic at the entrance to Modimolle from Mookgophong must be implemented.
Just more than a kilometer before the accident scene, a road sign indicates a speed limit of 100 km per hour.
Though there are signs warning drivers to be aware of pedestrians and stray animals, no other signs indicate that they should reduce speed in the area.
During Tuesday afternoon upset residents gathered near the accident scene and blocked the road with rocks.
According to WO. Pieter Booyse of the Modimolle Police Station, the Public Order Police unit was on the scene. The crowds dispersed shortly after that.
“We can confirm that a child was hit by a police van. We are conducting further investigations into the matter,” he said.
The police have not issued an official statement regarding the accident by the time of going to press.
