Mayoral vehicle accident was reported, says police
Councillors reacted to the social media post saying they too were surprised that they were only notified about the incident on Wednesday.
An accident scene involving the mayoral vehicle of the Ngwathe Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Cllr Victoria de Beer, during which a 26 year old woman from Vredefort, Julia Madam, died when she was hit by a BMW SUV on Sunday 21 May, was reported to the Parys SAPS.
The accident happened on the R59/N1 bridge near the Vaalplaza Tollgate.
Parys SAPS, Parys EMS, Provincial Traffic, LCRC, Pathology and Towing Services attended the scene, has been confirmed to Gazette.
A post of whom the author is not known, was shared all over social media platforms, late Thursday afternoon 25 May, causing a storm among the community with allegations that the mayor had travelled at high speed alone in the car when the incident happened. The post also alleges that there was only one traffic officer on the scene, and that the incident is allegedly ‘covered’ up.
Police spokesperson, sergeant Josephine Rani, today, Friday 26 May, in respons to the post confirmed that a culpable homicide case was opened at Parys SAPS following the accident in which Miss Madam was allegedly hit while hitchhiking on the R59.
Sgt. Rani said a preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle involved in the accident belongs to the Ngwathe Municipailty and that the driver of the vehicle was not the mayor of the Ngwathe Municipality, but her driver, a 49 year old man. Sgt Rani confirmed that the driver was not arrested. She said the docket will be taken to the Director of Public Prosecution for a decision soon, and that the investigation continues.
SANCO (South African National Civic Organisation) on Thursday 25 May in a letter said that the regional leadership of SANCO has been alerted of the incident involving the car of the Ngwathe Local Municipality, and the accident that tragically resulted in the death of a hitchhiking pedestrian. In the letter SANCO states the organisation is surprised that the office of the Executive Mayor has not issued any communication regarding the incident.
“But we have seen that the Executive Mayor is not using the car allocated to her by council, however she has been seen using the car of an employee of her office, Mr Harry Mofokeng. Mr Harry Mofokeng’s car has since been fitted with blue lights while being driven by Mr Mofokeng himself,” Sanco said in their letter.
SANCO continued saying the organisation is in the process of liasing with the family of the deceased in order to determine how they can assist the family.
Councillors reacted to the social media post saying they too were surprised that they were only notified about the incident on Wednesday.
The Ngwathe municipality, apart from the police statement that was shared, did not issue a seperate statement at the time of printing.
