BOPHELONG. – A man in his 20s allegedly stole a Corsa Lite following an altercation over petrol.

His reckless drive through Extension 6 ended disastrously on Chris Hani Street, where the man collided with a recycling mother (60) and daughter (36) walking from a local scrap yard.

Rebecca Malikoe’s life ended in tragedy when the Corsa plunged her into another stationary vehicle before halting against a palisade fencing next door to where the stationary vehicle was parked.

Sources close to the investigation said when the vehicle involved in the accident was searched, a bottle of vodka was found inside.

Nomvula Malikoe, the survivor, despite her trauma, recounted the ‘horrifying experience’ to Sedibeng Ster.

“We were just coming back from the scrap yard when suddenly, out of nowhere, this car came speeding towards us. Everything happened so fast. I’m still in shock and can’t believe my mother is gone,” she said.

According to the visibly disturbed Nomvula, her mother started recycling decades ago to provide for her family.

“This is the only hustle my mother knew. Since we were young, she used to leave the house at 4 a.m. in spring just to put food on the table, I even joined her in 2023 to help her contribute towards feeding our family. We are devastated and hope that justice will prevail,” she said.

The Malikoe family has yet to decide on the burial of Rebecca as her body remains in Pathology services for a postmortem.

Police spokesperson Captain Teboho Lephoto said a case of culpable homicide is opened and investigations are underway.