“Motorist not one of us” – Witpoortjie CPF

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Witpoortjie Community Policing Forum (CPF), Danie van der Merwe made it clear that the motorist facing a charge of culpable homicide following an accident in which a woman was killed on Monday does not have ties with their CPF.

“He is not one of our members and we distance ourselves totally from this person,” Van der Merwe told the Record.

“We would like you to set the record straight regarding the 21-year-old driver of the vehicle.

“Members of the Witpoortjie Neighbourhood Watch were on the scene to assist the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the South African Police Service (SAPS).”

“All I wanted to do was help” – motorist

The motorist who lost control of his vehicle and went crashing into a crowd of people, killing a woman and seriously injuring another on Randfontein Road on Monday gave his side of the story.

Facing charges of culpable homicide, the driver contacted the Record to explain the events leading up to the horrific accident.

Kevin Fruin (21) told the Record, “I was driving in Dromedaris Street coming from the pharmacy with a close friend when a gold VW Golf came flying into Dromedaris from the right-hand side. This vehicle was being chased by the vehicle from a security company that call themselves the Rooi Miere. The driver of the security vehicle – a Ford Bantam bakkie – then pointed at the Golf saying: ‘They are stealing it’.

“I decided also to give chase and we followed them onto Randfontein Road. There was a truck on the road, which the Golf was able to overtake, but my attempt to overtake it failed.”

Fruin says that because there was oncoming traffic, he either could choose to crash into the truck, or swerve onto the sand road. Despite desperately trying to avoid a head-on collision with another sedan, Fruin’s vehicle eventually collided with it on the side that led to his losing control of his vehicle and crashing into the crowd of people.

“The next moment I knew there was a woman on the windshield and I desperately tried to brake but because my tyre was detached following the collision the car kept going. When it finally came to a halt, we ran into the veldt because a group of people were trying to attack us.”

Fruin added that besides getting a few ‘warm klaps’, he blames the group for taking their wallets. Deon Gouws, witness and owner of Plot 22, 85 Randfontein Road (Witpoortjie) then came towards them with a spade and calmed everyone down.

“We then went back to the scene where I told police what had happened,” Fruin concluded.

Admitting to having travelled at a high speed, Fruin told the Record that all he wanted to do was help. He also confirmed that he was not a member of any Community Policing Forum (CPF) and that he did not have a valid driver’s licence.

Roodepoort SAPS spokesperson Vincent Mashiteng said, “Two cars collided, unfortunately one of them lost control and knocked two pedestrians, both of them women, walking on the side of the road. One of them died instantly. The other – who was injured seriously – was taken to Leratong Hospital for further treatment.

“At this stage the matter has to be investigated before an arrest can be made, but a case of culpable homicide has been opened.”

JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar also confirmed that, “In such a case the driver will face a charge of culpable homicide and is currently under investigation.”

Motorist hits another then crashes into a crowd of people

A pedestrian was killed and another had to be transported to hospital after a vehicle collided with another and then went crashing into a crowd of people on Randfontein Road near Leratong Hospital on Monday morning 4 November.

According to ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson, “Both patients are women. The deceased is believed to be in her 30s while the other – who sustained a broken leg – is said to be in her 20s.

“The driver (a male believed to be 21 years of age) of the light motor vehicle collided into another vehicle after which the driver crashed into the crowd.

“The woman who suffered fatal injuries appears to have been dragged under the vehicle and suffered extensive injuries. Sadly there was no more that paramedics could do to save her life and she was declared dead on scene.

“The second patient was in a stable condition and had suffered a badly broken leg as a result of the crash. She was transported to Leratong Hospital for further care.

“None of the people who were in the vehicles are believed to have suffered any physical injuries. Police who attended the scene will be conducting all necessary investigations.”

Witnesses on the scene say that the driver is a member of a neighbourhood watch [unconfirmed] and that he was chasing suspects while others say that he had overtaken a truck, and that he collided into a greyish Opel Corsa, lost control and went crashing into the crowd. It’s also mentioned that the driver of the Opel Astra (white) who crashed into the crowd did not have a driver’s licence.

An eyewitness, Deon Gouws of the Witpoortjie CPF who lives at nr 85 Randfontein Road Plot 22 (Witpoortjie) says, “I was in my back yard when I heard a collision. All of a sudden, there was dust and I saw a vehicle making its way into a group of pedestrians until it eventually came to a standstill some distance away down the road.

“A group of people who saw what happened then ran towards the motorist and his girlfriend who suddenly starting running into the veldt. They were followed and brought back to the scene by a group of at least 10 men. Suffering from shock they probably thought they were going to be attacked and ran.”

Gouws added that the accident took place not long after 11am.

The Record was told by a JMPD member not to take photographs as it was their scene.