Irate bakkie owner gets double trouble

After first being told her R500000 double-cab had been written off in a collision with another vehicle during a test drive by a garage, the owner has now been told she must pick up the cost of the excess.

The Ford Ranger Wildtrak was being test driven by an Eastern Cape Motors Group (ECMG) employee after a service when an allegedly drunk driver swerved into it.

But now self-employed Bulelwa Gwama of Haven Hills has been hit with the news that ECMG refuses to pay the excess on her insurance claim, and the insurance company has said she will lose her no-claim bonus.

The car was declared a write-off by the insurance company after the accident on September 15 in John Bailie Drive near Ebuhlanti – known as a drinking spot.

Gwama said she still had to pay R10000 a month for a car she did not have. “I am self-employed, my business is heavily reliant on the bakkie. As a result I have lost out on jobs because I don’t have it,” she said.

“I trusted them and entrusted them to keep my vehicle in good condition but it perished in their hands and they just don’t care,

“I believe it is in the best interest of the public for them to know the story,” Gwama said.

ECMG service manager Riaan Smit said Gwama had given them the right to test drive her vehicle so they should not be made to pay.

Smit said he did not understand what the fuss was about because she also owned a Mercedes-Benz and had a Ford Bantam in her name.

He said a medic on the scene of the crash hinted that the driver who crashed into their employee was drunk, and that the other driver should be made to pay.

“We did not cause the accident. A delinquent guy rode on the wrong side of the road and hit Gwama’s vehicle. He came from the front, lost control of the vehicle and slammed into us on our side of the road.

“We feel that this bad man who caused the accident should take responsibility,” said Smit.

East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala confirmed a case of drunk driving had been opened.

“The driver’s blood was drawn and has been sent for tests. We are now waiting for the results before taking the docket to court,” Mqala said.

Smit said clients signed job cards authorising their vehicles to be test driven after a service and that the company would not be held responsible for any damage.

“We have a qualified person to test drive the vehicle. The guy that test drives the vehicle also has a designated route on which we test drive vehicles,” Smit said. He said under no circumstances did Gwama tell the company to not drive her car.

Gwama’s insurer Absa idirect Insurance said they were willing to settle for the car.

The company’s claim adjustor Luthando Lubisa said: “The vehicle is financed but we have warned our client that once we settle, her claim history will be affected. So she opted to claim from the dealership directly.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za