The struggle continues for the hit-and-run victim’s mother
Hit-and-run victim’s mom is still looking for answers for her sons injury and has faced a lot of dead ends.
Last year Fourways Review reported on the hit-and-run crash at the corner of Witkoppen Road and Church Street in Douglasdale on July 22.
It has been a year since the devastating hit-and-run incident that left a 19-year-old with a cracked skull, bleeding on the brain, and a broken foot. The mother is still looking for answers for her son’s injuries and has faced a lot of dead ends.
Read more: Baboon succumbs to injuries after tragic accident
No arrests have been made and no one has come forward with information about the incident. The mother is still reeling from the trauma of that night and is desperate for answers. “Every day feels like I’m living in a bad dream. I just want to know who did this to him. I want answers,” said an emotional mother who asked not to be mentioned to keep her son’s identity private.
While her son’s medical condition has shown some signs of improvement since his initial hospitalisation, the journey to recovery is far from over. He still has no recollection of that night, and the trauma looms large over both mother and son.
The mother’s heart sinks with each small step toward recovery, as she worries about the lasting impacts of his injuries. “He still suffers from terrible headaches, blurred vision, and hearing problems, and doctors are uncertain if he will make a full recovery.”
Also read: Driver on the run after fatal accident that claimed two lives and injured 20
The mother is not happy with the way the police have dealt with this case. “My experience with the Douglasdale police was no fun, only one captain took time to help us make a statement. She never kept in touch with me nor answered her phone. I even went there but to no avail.”
She even tried to apply for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) compensation but has been met with rejection due to her son’s lack of memory about the incident. “They told me that without more information about what happened, they couldn’t help us. It feels like ’’m hitting a wall every time I try to get assistance,” she recounted, frustration evident.
She is now considering applying for disability assistance and is seeking advice on how to navigate the system. “We’re just looking for any kind of support that can help us through this nightmare.”
Ntshiso Nkuna from the RAF said, “The Road Accident Fund provides the right cover for South African citizens and foreigners who use roads in South Africa. To apply you need to submit an accident report and medical report among other information.”
She further explained, “Applications can be rejected if not enough information is provided, which often happens in cases of trauma where the victim cannot recall events, which in this case might be the reason for rejection. A dispute application for rejection is open if the victim feels the rejection was unfair. ”
Lizzy Mabena, Douglasdale CPF chairperson said, “Unfortunately, we were not able to access the footage of the accident; we only have one of the boy walking. Since the case was open we didn’t do any follow-up with the police. From our side, we don’t have any new information regarding the case, but we keep contact with the family.”
When approached for comment, Captain Mpho Tlhakane from Douglasdale Police Station had not responded to our query by the time of going to print. An update will be provided if new information becomes available.
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