Investigation into hit-and-run finally underway

After days of anxiety, the parents of a 10-year-old hit-and-run victim can finally see action. At 19:00 on Sunday, 28 February, Lishe Rockman’s parents received a call that every parent dreads – their daughter had been in an accident. “I just threw my phone on the floor and immediately ran to the scene barefoot,” her mother, Vinolia Leibbrandt (38), said. “I can’t describe how I felt at that moment; all I could think of was whether my child was okay.” Lishe’s father, Godwyn Manuel (36), was no different. “All I was hoping for was that my child was fine,” he said. Even though Lishe currently has trouble with headaches and pain in her arm, the situation could have been much worse. The accident took place in Bloemetjie Street in Promosa between 18:00 and 19:00. Witnesses identified a silver Ford bakkie before it fled the scene. After her parents arrived there, they called an ambulance and the police, but no one came. According to the parents, they had no choice but to take matters into their own hands. “She was in so much pain that we had to rush her to the clinic,” said Vinolia. After arriving at the clinic, they phoned the ambulance again. About 10 to 15 minutes later, it escorted them to the nearest hospital. They only re- turned home in the early hours of Monday morning. Later that morning, Lishe and her parents went to the Ikageng police station to report the accident but were sent home due to Lishe’s injuries. They were told that an officer would arrive at their residence within the hour to assist with the case. “An hour went by and still no one came to assist us,” Vinolia said. According to her, a police officer arrived at about 17:30, but said he would send someone else to assist with the case. “He said it was close to knock-off time and that he would send someone from the nightshift to come and assist,” Vinolia added. “At about 20:30, the police arrived with no formal docket and instead documented our statements on a random piece of paper,” she continued. The following day, the family went to the police station to enquire about a case number. They reportedly waited for hours before being assisted. The family eventually received a case number on Wednesday, 3 March 2021. According to them, however, the station management had contacted them during the past week to discuss the case. By the time of going to print, the police had not responded to the Herald’s enquiries.