The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE family has demanded justice for the death of their four-year-old son who was run over by a “reckless” driver last year.
Wandile Sibanda who was an ECD A pupil at Alan Redfern died in November last year after a car hit him and dragged him for about 20 metres while his family watched. His maternal grandmother, Mrs Joyce Ngwenya said police only informed her family last week that the charges against the driver whose name could not be ascertained had been dropped in January this year.
“The matter was declined for prosecution because the accident was unavoidable as the child ran into the road and the accused could not have anticipated that the child would run into the road,” read a police outcome of report document that was presented to the family.
Mrs Ngwenya said upon making a follow-up on the matter they discovered that statements of key witnesses had not been recorded.
“We have been visiting the Plumtree Police Station traffic department since December last year trying to make a follow up on the case. Each time they used to tell us the matter hasn’t been finalised. Last week we requested to see the officer commanding Bulilima-Mangwe District, Chief Superintendent Martin Makusha. He ordered his subordinates to retrieve the docket and that’s when we learnt that the case was closed in January. We visited the police station numerous times this year but they never told us this,” said Mrs Ngwenya.
She added: “To make matters worse the docket doesn’t have statements of key witnesses who comprise myself and my daughters who witnessed the accident. It contains a statement alleged to be that of my son-in-law who was also at the scene of the accident but he denies signing the statement. It also contains a statement of a man who alleges to have helped pull my grandchild from beneath the car where he was trapped yet it’s only family members and a neighbour who pulled him out,” said Mrs Ngwenya.
Mrs Ngwenya said soon after the incident her family tried to get in touch with the driver of the car who killed her grandson in order to have discussions but he was unco-operative. Mrs Ngwenya said they also sent a letter demanding $1 360 for costs incurred in burying her grandchild but he did not respond.
“We are not concerned with compensation as that won’t bring back my grandchild but as a family we want justice to be served,” she said.
Chief Supt Makusha said the Ngwenya family approached him complaining about the case. He said he has instructed the traffic department to revisit the matter. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs who is also Mangwe representative in the National Assembly Cde Obedingwa Mguni said the Ngwenya family had approached him over the same matter and he referred them to Chief Supt Makusha.
Wandile was hit by the car while his mother was waiting for him at the gate of their home as he crossed the road. He was rushed to United Bulawayo Hospitals where he died on the same night. On the day he died Wandile was dropped off by his uncle who had parked his car across the road opposite his home. Witnesses said the boy was hit by a speeding vehicle and it dragged him along the road for about 20 metres while he was trapped underneath.
The driver is alleged to have been drunk.
