Mthabiseng Hlophe (8) was walking home with this father – after collecting the family’s traditional Saturday night take-away treat – when he was hit by a white bakkie on the R102.
This happened only a 100 metres from the Southport intersection, a few minutes after 7pm.
The driver allegedly failed to stop at the scene and drove off, leaving Lucky Hlophe, the boy’s father sitting next to the road with his son’s lifeless body in his arms.
Lazer 911 responded, followed by an ambulance. Police spokesman Petros Mpinge said a case of culpable homicide is being investigated by Southport Saps.
“It is alleged that the driver of a white bakkie failed to stop at the scene of the accident. Paramedics arrived on scene and certified the child dead,” he said. He asked for any other witnesses to contact Southport Saps at 039 6819900. Family and friends are ‘shattered’ about the incident.
Bianca Engelbrecht, speaking on behalf of the family, said Mthabiseng had celebrated his eighth birthday on October 15.
By all accounts he was a very popular youngster, a fan of Marvel Comic’s superhero, Spiderman and a boy with a bright smile and bubbly personality. She described him as a clever child. He was a grade 2 pupil at RA Engar Primary School and had already learnt to speak four languages. “This was a horrible tragedy. We are so broken over Mthabiseng being gone. He was such a happy little boy and everyone who knew him knew that he didn’t deserve this,” said Bianca.
She said that Lucky and his wife Alexa, with Mthabiseng, had walked the short distance from home to collect the take-away meal.“
Alexa wasn’t feeling well and decided to walk home and wait there. Lucky and Mthabiseng waited for the food order. They then started on their way home shortly after 7pm. As they crossed the road they did their safety checks. We know Mthabiseng is very aware of the roads and knows when and how to cross. In other words, he did not run into the road.” Seeing the road was clear the pair crossed.
According to Bianca, Mthabiseng was hit by the white bakkie, which had been heading south, but allegedly driving in the north-bound lane. “The next thing Lucky knew, Mthabiseng was not with him. He looked around for a few seconds before he realised he was lying in the road,” she said. Bianca explained that Lucky had seen the bakkie stop near the taxi/bus-stop close to the traffic lights for a few minutes, but that the driver had then made a U-turn and driven back in the direction from which he or she had originally come.
Bianca asked people not to jump to conclusions and blame the parents.
“Please understand they have lost their child. This was a horrible accident and there’s no need to make the family feel any worse than they already do,” she said, partly in response to comments on various social media sites. She said the incident highlighted the reality that speeding kills, drunk driving kills and being on your phone while driving kills. “Please take caution. The coast is a small community, we need to look out for each other.” A cross is being made for Mthabiseng and will be erected this Saturday (12th) to honour his life.
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