BOIPATONG – Residents of Boipatong were left distressed by a heart-wrenching incident when a truck driver killed a 58-year-old dad.
In the early hours of Tuesday, August 8, Josia Ratema met his tragic end when he was run down by a speeding truck while commuting to work on his bicycle.
The incident left Ratema lifeless and broken, his bicycle squashed to pieces on the side of Batloung Street.
As if this was not enough, the truck driver’s attempt to flee the scene left behind a trail of shock and disbelief.
A local taxi operator emerged as a beacon of hope in the face of tragedy when he pursued the runaway truck, successfully intercepting it and ensuring that the driver could not dodge justice.
Authorities swiftly responded to the scene, encompassed by a crowd of onlookers who bore witness to the grim aftermath.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Seabi Chabeli (51), Ratema’s grief-stricken partner, shared her heartbreak over the sudden loss.
“Ntate left the house at 5:50 as per usual because he cycles to Park Ridge Primary School. I boarded a taxi to work and it passed the accident scene. At that time, I didn’t think it could be him. Moments later, I received a call from his nephew, who told me that Josia was killed,” she said.
Chabeli said she jumped off the taxi and boarded back to the scene.
“I was hurt and broken to find his lifeless body in that condition. He had some of his bones broken, which proves that the truck really hit him hard. I can’t even begin to make mention of his bicycle, it was this tiny [demonstrating with her hands],” said the visibly shaken partner.
Recounting her last moments with her partner, Chabeli said the deceased bathed and left the house in the morning.
“Last night we watched soapies on TV, then went to bed. He ate his supper in bed. In the morning, I woke up and plugged water for him. He collected his water, bathed, and left without saying goodbye,” she said.
Chabeli said the father of her kids was very quiet.
“He only spoke to people he knows, he wasn’t really a talking person. His leaving the housing without saying goodbye, was something we were used to. Some days he would say when he left, but today he didn’t,” she added.
At the time of publishing this story, the police spokesperson had not commented on the matter, however, police, pathologists, and crime prevention wardens were at the scene when Ster’s team gathered information.
