Driver who allegedly caused crash that killed girl, 5, in court 18 months later

25 April 2023 - 21:50
By Shonisani Tshikalange
A alleged drunk driver, Joseph Hebron Maponya, made his first appearance in the Middleburg magistrate's court, more than 18 months after he allegedly caused the crash that killed five-year-old Ame Jansen van Rensburg.
Image: 123RF A alleged drunk driver, Joseph Hebron Maponya, made his first appearance in the Middleburg magistrate's court, more than 18 months after he allegedly caused the crash that killed five-year-old Ame Jansen van Rensburg.

A mother was overcome with emotions on Tuesday when she came face to face with an alleged drunk driver who allegedly caused the accident that killed her five-year-old daughter in 2021.

Joseph Hebron Maponya made his first appearance in the Middelburg magistrate's court, more than 18 months after he allegedly caused the car crash that killed Amé Jansen van Rensburg.

Maponya faces charges of culpable homicide, and reckless and negligent driving as well as driving under the influence of alcohol.

“For a year and seven months, the name Joseph Maponya was a name that only meant sadness and grief to us. But today I could put a face to that name. It hurts my heart bitterly that it had to take so long to get to this point. Now all the plasters on our hearts have been ripped off and the raw hurt is exposed once again,” said Nadia Jansen van Rensburg, Ame’s mother.

She approached AfriForum’s private prosecution unit in October 2021, a month after the car crash on September 26 that claimed the life of her daughter and left her with a broken arm.

AfriForum said on the day of the accident, Jansen van Rensburg, her husband,  their son Flippie and Amé were driving to Middelburg. Both children were strapped into their car seats. 

It is alleged that Maponya, in a red vehicle, crossed over the barrier line and into oncoming traffic. The husband swerved to avoid a head-on collision but their bakkie rolled and Amé was killed.

It is alleged Maponya fled the scene of the accident, but was apprehended and brought back to the scene where he was handed over to the police.

“It is alleged that Maponya was visibly intoxicated,” said AfriForum's spokesperson Ischke van Eeden.

The case was delayed because of outstanding blood alcohol results, even though eyewitnesses reported having seen Maponya in a visibly intoxicated state. She said the private prosecution unit continued applying pressure on the National Prosecuting Unit until the matter was finally enrolled.

The case was postponed until May 19, a day before Amé would have turned seven.

“Instead of me standing in the kitchen on May 19 baking a cake for my daughter’s seventh birthday, which would have been on the twentieth, I’ll be sitting in court,” said Jansen van Rensburg.

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