The family of one of three children killed by an alleged drunk driver in Witbank, Mpumalanga, are livid after discovering the culprit has not yet been apprehended and the suspect who was arrested had been discharged without their knowledge.
Manqoba Cindi, Okuhle Gadlazela, both 11, and Mpendulo Hleza, 10, were killed on April 27 while they were walking on the pavement when a driver allegedly went off the road and bumped into them.
A suspect was arrested at the scene, and the families went to the Witbank court expecting to see him in the dock — only to learn that the case was withdrawn, without any communication with them.
Manqoba's aunt, Phindile Masuku, said: “When we arrived in court, we asked about the case, and they told us to wait as they were still busy with old matters.” She said it was after 2pm when they learnt that the man was released.
“The police officials were saying there was no evidence or witnesses.
“We will go back to the police station, but now we are frustrated and disappointed.”
She feared “the case will just disappear”.
She said her nephew Manqoba was a quiet child. “He loved to play soccer and he wanted to be a lawyer.”
His mother, she said, wasn't coping since the crash, and they had taken her to the doctor for medical attention.
Mpumalanga community safety spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said: “It is not clear why he was released. We are following up with the police. Those kids were reportedly on their way to play soccer, and it was fairly early in the morning, around 8am. We are not sure if he was drunk, we will rely on the investigations by the police in this matter.”
Local ward councillor Stuurman Tlhapi said he had learnt that the suspect who was arrested is the owner of the minibus taxi and was travelling with the driver.
“The owner was not the one who was driving the taxi. He was there when the accident happened, but the one who was driving [allegedly] decided to run away from the scene. They ended up arresting the owner of the taxi because he couldn't leave his vehicle,” he said.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Col Donald Mdhluli confirmed the suspect they arrested had been released without charge after the prosecutor read the docket, before he appeared in court.
Police are investigating further, Mdhluli said.
