A grieving father has slammed cops for dragging their feet in the investigation after he lost three family members in a horrific car accident, allegedly caused by a drunk driver.
The man’s ex-wife, his son and grandchild all died in the gruesome accident on Baden Powell Drive on 23 October.
Yolande Geduld, 51, her son Kurt-Lee Carolus, 30, and four-year-old granddaughter Tara-Lee Carolus, from Strand, passed away after their Peugeot 206 broke down and a bakkie rammed into them.
Speaking to the Daily Voice, the father, who asked not to be named, explains: “They were heading towards family in Mitchells Plain after looking at a house in Belgravia Estate when they ran out of fuel.
“My sons, Kurt-Lee and Luke, 20, got out of the car while Yolande was also outside.
“Kurt-Lee was standing by the boot when the Isuzu bakkie came speeding towards the car. Yolande managed to push Luke over the barricade on the side of the road but Kurt-Lee was pinned between the two cars and was dragged till under the bakkie. Yolande also died from the impact.
“My daughter Lauren was in the car with Tara-Lee and my six-month-old granddaughter Taliyah and after the knock, Lauren noticed that Tara-Lee had a knock on her head and she died while being transported to Red Cross [Hospital].”
He says Luke, Lauren and Taliyah are still recovering from their injuries while the driver of the bakkie and his passengers came away with scratches.
The father says witnesses at the scene reported that the driver, whose identity is known to the Daily Voice, was drunk and had four passengers in the bakkie, but when police arrived, only one passenger was present on the scene.
“When the police came on the scene, they did not arrest the guy and people say his father arrived to hide empty bottles of alcohol while the other passengers were taken away.
“Since then I spoke to the investigating officer and found out that he did not even do his due diligence by speaking to the eyewitnesses or to Luke and Lauren, who survived the crash.
“I complained to the police commissioner and even got in contact with Minister Bheki Cele’s office about this and now there is a new investigation officer, who completed those interviews this week.”
In a voicenote sent to the Daily Voice from the first investigating officer, he said he did not think the driver was drunk and was therefore not arrested.
A police source told the Daily Voice the bakkie passenger is yet to give a statement.
The father adds: “Luke is walking on crutches and Lauren is using a wheelchair to get around but they both want justice for the loss of their loved ones. I live in Johannesburg and have contacted an advocate who will be looking into the matter.”
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed a culpable homicide case was registered at Mitchells Plain SAPS and arrests are yet to be made.