Bronkhorstspruit Police are investigating young boy’s death
Community wants to know why the driver has not yet been arrested.
The community along the Forfar Road in Bronkhorstspruit’s sector 4 is unhappy that the driver of a delivery truck has not yet been arrested in connection with the death of a young boy.
Godfrey Mahlomoza (11) died in a freak accident on the Forfar Road on November 30.
According to residents, the driver of the light delivery truck that is licenced in Mozambique, dropped sand off at the Mahlomoza-family’s home that day and when he wanted to collect another load, several of the children begged to go along.
The children were allegedly sitting on top of the sand at the back of the delivery truck on the trip back to the house.
Godfrey, who is described as a hyperactive child, allegedly jumped up and tried to catch his cap that had blown off in the wind.
The boy landed on his head on the dirt road not far from his home. Rosina Mtswene was travelling behind the sand truck when the accident happened.
“I only noticed it was a child when I came closer. I immediately phoned for help,” she explained.
Mtswene is a former traffic officer and instinctively took charge at the scene.
“By then, the older brother was cradling the injured child’s head. I told the bystanders to keep him still.”
Mtswene said it was a tragic scene. Godfrey’s head was bleeding and his crying mother was also there as her child took his last breath.
Paramedics declared the boy dead on the scene.
“When I turned around, I noticed the driver had left the scene in his truck. He apparently went to deliver the sand.
“I scolded him when he returned. It is illegal to leave the scene of an accident, especially where someone died,” said Mtswene.
A policeman from Bronkhorstspruit Police Station also arrived on the scene and took Mtswene’s number.
“No one has yet contacted me,” she said.
Community members now want to know why the driver has not yet been arrested and what is happening with the case.
“He should be held accountable for allowing the children to sit on the sand at the back while the vehicle is moving,” said a witness.
Another resident wanted to know what trauma counselling was given to the family, especially to the older brother who was with the boy until the end.
Constable Catherine Pungo, the spokesperson for the Bronkhorstspruit Police, confirmed that a case of culpable homicide has been opened, but no one has yet been arrested.
“The investigation is ongoing,” she said.
