The family of a 15-year-old girl who was run over, allegedly by a police officer, have accused authorities of dragging their feet in taking action against the cop who fled the scene after the hit-and-run incident on Thursday afternoon in Ekurhuleni.
Blessing Chibaya, was carrying her six-year-old sister on her back when a police officer drove into them on the pavement and dragged Blessing’s body for about 50m before speeding off in the state vehicle.
The community chased after the police vehicle, which had two other occupants inside, to alert the driver about the pedestrian he had just knocked. Instead, the officer allegedly fired warning shots in the air, resulting in a car chase that folded at the Tsakane police station, where a heated exchange of words broke out between the community and the station’s commander .
“The police have no interest to investigate my child's death and it doesn't come as a shock that the person who did this has not been arrested and they continue to live their normal lives with their children. Police have not shown any remorse and my only sin is because I'm a foreigner,” said the distraught mother Revai Mashiri, 34, a Zimbabwean national.
The incident happened after Blessing had picked up her sister, Nardos, from school. Blessing died on the scene, while Nardos had to be taken to hospital.
According Mashiri who viewed the body at the morgue on Monday, Blessing's head appeared to be fractured with a deep would at the back while the skin on the back of her body had peeled off exposing her spinal bones. Nardos has a swollen eye and a bruised forehead.
Police watchdog Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has not arrested the officer who was driving, blaming the SAPS for failing to report the incident to them.
Blessing had been in the country for December holidays when she met her death and was due to return to Zimbabwe next week to start grade 11.
“I can never forget what police have done to me and my family. I wish the hate could stop because police are the ones who are inciting violence and playing the xenophobia card on me.”
Mashiri said Tsakane police allegedly refused to open a case.
She said she wanted to look into the face of her daughter’s killer and ask him why he killed her.
“They killed my daughter. It’s fine. But I just have one request, can the state just take her body home to rest because I lost my job because of the lockdown. I don’t even have a cent to my name,” she pleaded.
An eyewitness, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he was walking behind the children minutes before the accident happened near the Tsakane Shopping Centre.
He said the driver was allegedly speeding.
“I heard the Ford Ranger bakkie screeching brakes behind me and I quickly moved away, then it sped off and tried to overtake a taxi that was in front of it,” said the eyewitness.
“There was traffic and the driver decided to drive on the pavement where he lost control [of the vehicle] and hit the two girls from behind.”
He said the van hit Blessing, who then fell to the ground and her younger sister flew away and hit the ground while Blessing remained stuck under the vehicle, which dragged her for about 50m.
“The driver pulled out his gun and fired shots as the community ran towards the vehicle to alert him that the child was stuck underneath the car. But he kept driving. The child was still screaming then but sadly, she suddenly dropped on her face and died on the spot.”
Neighbours stopped a taxi and gave chase and found the bakkie at the police station.
Theo Maba said a confrontation broke out between them and the police. “The driver appeared drunk and he pulled out his firearm and fired shots as he drove off. He still had the firearm in his hand when we got to the station.
“They took him and hid him inside the station. His female colleagues who were with him then swore at us, saying they didn’t stop because we were going for the driver,” said Maba.
Maba added that the station commander accused the community of defending foreigners who didn’t belong in SA.
The station commander was contacted for comment but hung up the phone when he was asked about the incident and his alleged xenophobic comments.
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