THE FAMILY of a Kimberley man who was killed in an accident on the R31 road near Barkly West on Saturday has accused authorities of not informing them about the incident.
Daniel Matlhoko and Isaac Mohale died after the Toyota Hilux bakkie they were travelling in collided with a white VW Polo on the R31 just 15 kilometres outside Barkly West, towards Kimberley, on Saturday at around 12 noon.
Zachariah Mashilo and his five-year-old granddaughter, Galalelo van Wyk, who were also travelling in the bakkie, survived the incident.
The five occupants of the Polo, John Mamapule and his wife, Riana, and three passengers, who are believed to be hitch-hikers, also survived the accident.
Mamapule, who is the owner of Kekemetse Funerals in Kimberley, and his wife were discharged from Kimberley Hospital yesterday.
According to Matlhoko’s wife, Bernadette, she was informed of the accident by community members.
“Someone came to us and told us they saw that my husband’s bakkie was involved in accident. At that stage we were not certain whether he had passed away. We went to the Kimberley police station and waited for about two hours for someone to assist us and give us information on the incident. Currently, we have still not been contacted by police nor did we get an opportunity to identify my husband,” Bernadette said yesterday.
“My mother-in-law is crying but we are not even certain whether the person whom we are mourning is in fact my husband. No one from the police has come to see us or made any contact with us to tell us about this heartbreaking incident.
“I have lost my husband but the matter is treated very lightly.”
She also stated that she does not have any details about the accident or how it occurred.
“My husband left home saying that he is going to Barkly West. My neighbour, Isaac, came to ask my husband for transport to Barkly West. They then left together. We are not sure who else went along with them on the trip,” she said.
Bernadette added that this is the second time that law enforcement agencies had let down the family.
“My son also died in an accident in the army and nobody came to inform us. We also had to hear it from people talking. It is very painful to hear about the passing of a loved one from people talking.
“I am certain that there is some protocol and procedure that is followed which involves the correct way of informing family in the case of someone dying at the scene of an accident. My husband’s bakkie was registered in his name and if they searched for his information by using the registration number of the bakkie, they would have found an address.
“We do not understand why that has not been done and we are sitting with unanswered questions.”
Bernadette said that her husband made a living transporting school children.
“My husband was the only person working in the house. He was taking care of me and our children as well as my mother-in-law, who is a pensioner. I do not know how we will now survive without that income,” she said.
Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said that the deceased’s families were contacted and that the police were not aware of any disgruntled family members.
He added that the identification of the deceased will only take place today.
“The accident happened in the policing area of Barkly West, not in the Kimberley policing area. Immediately after the accident the police conducted an investigation. The investigation is not an overnight matter. As the investigation unfolded, the families of the deceased were contacted and informed about the fatal accident which involved their family members,” said Tawana.
“The identification of the deceased will be conducted on Monday (today).
“The families of the deceased were correctly informed. We are not aware of any disgruntlement from the families of the deceased. However, if there is any unhappiness regarding anything in relation to the accident, the families are advised to contact the Barkly West station commander.”
Mohale’s family members said that they had been contacted by police yesterday regarding the accident report.
“The police contacted us on Sunday (yesterday) and said that they need the documents of the deceased in order to file the accident report,” they said.
Mohale’s brother, Elias, said that his brother had left with Matlhoko and Mashilo in the bakkie to go and collect wood in Barkly West.
“We were informed about the accident by Mashilo’s relatives,” he said. Elias said that his brother was employed as a newspaper vendor by the DFA.
“He was working for the DFA for about two years. He was very hardworking and enjoyed his work a lot,” he said.
Tawana meanwhile confirmed that the police investigation into the accident is continuing.
“Barkly West police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a head-on collision which claimed the lives of two people. The accident happened on R31 near Barkly West. The accident involved a bakkie and VW Polo. The driver of the bakkie and his passenger were declared dead on the scene. Their age is still to be confirmed. The investigation continues,” said Tawana.