Family of prisoner killed in R524 crash says police failed to update them
The family of Gundo Sikhwari, who died in the R524 crash, says police have not contacted them since the incident to provide updates on the investigation.
LIMPOPO – The family of an awaiting-trial prisoner who died in a head-on collision involving three police officers, another prisoner and the driver of the second vehicle has expressed disappointment over the police’s failure to visit them since the accident.
The family alleges that police officers visited their home only on October 6, the day of the collision, to inform them of the tragedy. They have not returned since then.
Gundo Sikhwari (20), from Magau, who was facing a charge of robbery, died alongside three police officers, another awaiting-trial prisoner and the driver in the collision. He was buried at Magau on Saturday.
Family wants answers
Speaking about the family’s concerns, the deceased’s elder brother, Mbengi Sikhwari, said he was deeply disappointed by the police’s conduct.
“The police came to inform us about his death and the deaths of the other people. We still have questions about what happened on the road, but they have not given us any details. We have to phone them all the time. They do not bother contacting us or updating us on the progress of the investigation.
“I am very disappointed because I thought they would keep us informed or visit us to find out how we were coping with the loss,” he said.
He said the family had accepted the death of their loved one but wanted closure and answers about the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“We have been kept in the dark since the incident happened. We had hoped that the police would keep us informed about the progress of the investigation,” he said.
Police acknowledge lack of communication
Police spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi acknowledged the importance of communicating with the families of the deceased.
“It is necessary that we give feedback to the families of the deceased,” he said.
Dathi said the police would visit the family and apologise for the lack of communication.
He explained that the Tshilwavhusiku police had been occupied with arrangements for the funerals of their colleagues and that formal feedback would be provided to the affected families in due course.
