Heartbroken family demands justice after girl’s death
The 10-year-old was struck by a car while crossing the road.
What should have been a joyous Easter weekend filled with celebration and delight was marred by tragedy for one Dalview family.
Faith Chifamba is mourning the loss of her 10-year-old daughter Blessing Onoh, who was struck by a car and killed on Good Friday (April 18).
The 41-year-old single mother told the Brakpan Herald that Blessing and her two sisters, aged 12 and 17, were returning home that afternoon after shopping at the Mall@Carnival.
Faith requested that the names of her other children not be disclosed.
The siblings were crossing Heidelberg Road, near the Airport Drive intersection, to catch a taxi when the driver of the car allegedly swerved to avoid hitting another vehicle.
According to the family, Blessing had almost safely reached the other side of the road when the car hit her.
The driver allegedly offered no assistance to the injured girl or her traumatised sisters and fled the scene.
“My child was lying under his car and he just drove away,” said an emotional Faith.
“There were motorists in three different cars that chased after him and caught him. He was then handed over to Brakpan police,” she said.
Faith added that she is forever grateful to these strangers who assisted.
None of Faith’s children had a cellphone with them at the time of the accident and her 12-year-old daughter quickly hurried home.
“She came to fetch me while her older sister stayed with Blessing. She (the older sister) was trying to get motorists to stop and get help for Blessing,” said Faith.
Blessing would later be declared dead on the scene.
Faith described Blessing, who was a Grade Four learner at a school in Springs, as a gentle and loving child who cherished their relationship.
“She was such a sweet girl who loved her mommy,” said Faith.
The 48-year-old driver was arrested on a charge of culpable homicide and appeared in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday, where he was granted bail and the case was postponed to later this month.
The family is devastated that the man is out on bail because of his initial attempt to flee. They are demanding justice.
They are also heartbroken that Blessing’s life has been reduced to the financial value of the bail amount.
There were claims that the man was an undocumented foreigner but Brakpan police have confirmed that he is legally in the country.
The family met with an official from the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Friday in an effort to better understand what transpired in court.
This meeting left them more hurt and confused as they were informed there was a watching brief acting on behalf of the family during Tuesday’s court proceedings.
This legal practitioner allegedly told the prosecutor that the family did not oppose bail, which the family has denied.
Faith is adamant she was not approached by any lawyer or legal practitioner on the day, nor spoke with such a person.
Blessing’s death has also sparked an outcry in the community and an online petition for immediate revocation of the man’s bail is gaining traction.
The petitioners are also demanding full prosecution and appropriate charges against the man for fleeing the scene of a fatal accident.
The petition can be signed at www.change.org/p/justice-for-blessing-revoke-bail-for-hit-and-run-suspect
The Brakpan Herald is awaiting comment from the National Prosecuting Authority.
Also read: Swift police action leads to child rescue and man’s arrest
