Horror crash involving ANC Letaba chief whip claims two lives
Phetole Mampeule, who is also spokesperson for the Modjadji royal family, was allegedly speeding at the time of the accident.
Picture for illustrative purposes only.
ANC chief whip in the Greater Letaba municipality and spokesperson for the Modjadji royal family Phetole Mampeule was injured in a crash that claimed the lives of two people.
Mampeule was allegedly coming from his lodge in Bolobedu when his car crashed into another vehicle near Ga-Matshwi in Bolobedu on Tuesday.
The driver of the other car reportedly died at the scene while a child died hours later.
“We can confirm that the chief whip was involved in an accident yesterday. Mampeule’s condition is stable and he is now recuperating at home,” said Greater Letaba municipality spokesperson Lovers Maenetja yesterday.
“The mayor, Peter Matlou and the entire staff of the municipality have wished him a speedy recovery,” said Maenetja.
A source at the scene told The Citizen Mampeule was apparently speeding.
The spokesperson for the department of transport in Limpopo, Matome Moremi, confirmed the accident.
“We have learnt of the accident though we can’t confirm who the occupants of the vehicles are,” he said.
Moremi said both the department and the police were still investigating.
“It normally takes seven days to complete the investigations. But if the accident claimed a life, it becomes a culpable homicide,” said Moremi.
Mampeule is the second politician in the Mopani region of Limpopo involved in an accident this month.
Mayor for the Maruleng municipality Dipuo Thobejane’s vehicles were involved in two accidents in three weeks.
Two days after Christmas, Thobejane’s mayoral car was involved in a horrific accident in Sekororo near Mahlakung Mall.
Her driver, Pulane Sekgobela, allegedly crashed into another car and pedestrians. The pedestrians sustained serious head and bodily injuries.
Thobejane said the driver took the vehicle without her knowledge. Sekgobela has since been suspended.
Thobejane had been using her personal vehicle, but, on Friday, crashed it on the road between her home in The Oax and Hoedspruit.
The accident earned Thobejane the nickname “Johnnie Walker” because she depends on good Samaritans for a lift to attend meetings.
– news@citizen.co.za
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