News
Mayor’s office responds to accident claiming the life of a Vredefort woman
The Office of the Executive Mayor of the Ngwathe Local Municipality today (Monday 29 May), appealed to members of the public to allow the authorities space to investigate the accident in which the mayoral vehicle was involved on Sunday 21 May, calling upon the public to desist from making ill-informed and reckless comments regarding the unfortunate incident.
A post on social media platforms caused a storm last week with serious allegations with regard to the accident and the accident scene.
Police spokesperson, sergeant Josephine Rani, on Friday 26 May, in respons to the post confirmed that a culpable homicide case was opened at Parys SAPS following the accident in which the 26 year old Miss Julia Madam of Vredefort was allegedly hit by a Black BMW 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 (as was alledged in the post), 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.
The executive mayor’s office in respons to the incident confirmed that the vehicle involved in the accident was the official vehicle designated for use by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Victoria de Beer-Mthombeni. The statement further reads that the office of the Executive Mayor is in constant contact with the affected parties, particularly the grieving family of the deceased.
In the statement it is said that the matter is currently with the law enforcement authorities for further investigation. “We fully cooperate with the relevant law enforcement agencies to assist with the investigation.”
The mayor’s office said the unfortunate incident where a community member had sadly lost her life is indeed regrettable and that they “commit to working closely with the family throughout this tragic period and beyond.”
“We are also offering support to the driver assigned to transport the mayor. The driver is
traumatized by the unfortunate incident,” the mayor’s office said.
The office asked the public to please demonstrate compassion for the family that lost a loved one.
According to the mayor’s office the public will be updated with the outcome of the investigation, once completed.
It has since been confirmed that Parys SAPS, Parys EMS, Provincial Traffic, LCRC, Pathology and Towing Services did attend the accident scene.
* SANCO on Thursday in a letter said the organisation is surprised that the office of the Executive Mayor has not issued any communication regarding the incident. Councillors reacted to the social media post saying they too were surprised that they were only notified about the incident on Wednesday.
