An Eastern Cape mayor at the centre of a medical bill controversy was the driver of a municipal car involved in a fatal accident last year.
Schoeman said he had last received a call from Charl when he was in Queenstown saying everything was fine.
He later received a phone call from an eyewitness saying Charl had been involved in an accident. The eyewitness told him a Fortuner had tried to overtake a truck. “The person driving in front of my son saw the mayor’s vehicle (heading towards her). She swerved, my son was too late to swerve as well. He hit her (the mayor’s vehicle). That’s all we know,” said a tearful Gideon.
Feketshane confirmed that the Fortuner was a municipal-owned vehicle and had been insured as such.
He said the mayoral handbook stated clearly that “the mayor should be provided with a driver and security”.
However, he said: “In our case there is an institutional arrangement that an executive mayor may drive for himself or herself and unfortunately in this case an accident occurred which is a regrettable occurrence,” said Feketshane.
Schoeman said on hearing about the accident, he organised a medical helicopter to fly to the scene.
But just five minutes after landing, Charl was declared dead and the helicopter was instead used to airlift Makanda – who was in a serious condition – to hospital.
“They could not get my son out of the car. That lady’s life was saved by a helicopter that I arranged. This woman has torn us apart. Not even an apology, nothing. She is trying to cover her back and does not even apologise to us. It’s not right, hey. It’s not right,” he said.
Queenstown police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Namhla Mdleleni confirmed that a case of culpable homicide had been opened. “The case is still under investigation. We are waiting for blood tests results,” said Mdleleni.
Feketshane said they were not aware of a police investigation. He said Makanda was back at work.
“The municipality is not aware of any pending culpable homicide case against our executive mayor,” he said.
Schoeman said it would have been Charl’s birthday today and that his friends and family would gather together to honour his life.
“My son was well liked in this town. We are still receiving messages of support. We have even opened a Facebook page for him, in his memory,” he said.
More than 500 people had posted messages of support by late yesterday.
“He died 100km from his house. We were waiting for him, preparing to welcome him with a nice braai. We were expecting him within 30 minutes to be at home and I got a call from the eyewitness that he was involved in an accident. It’s very hard to come to terms with this,” said Schoeman. — zineg@dispatch.co.za / siphem@dispatch.co.za
Mayor drove in fatal crash
Schoeman said he had last received a call from Charl when he was in Queenstown saying everything was fine.
He later received a phone call from an eyewitness saying Charl had been involved in an accident. The eyewitness told him a Fortuner had tried to overtake a truck. “The person driving in front of my son saw the mayor’s vehicle (heading towards her). She swerved, my son was too late to swerve as well. He hit her (the mayor’s vehicle). That’s all we know,” said a tearful Gideon.
Feketshane confirmed that the Fortuner was a municipal-owned vehicle and had been insured as such.
He said the mayoral handbook stated clearly that “the mayor should be provided with a driver and security”.
However, he said: “In our case there is an institutional arrangement that an executive mayor may drive for himself or herself and unfortunately in this case an accident occurred which is a regrettable occurrence,” said Feketshane.
Schoeman said on hearing about the accident, he organised a medical helicopter to fly to the scene.
But just five minutes after landing, Charl was declared dead and the helicopter was instead used to airlift Makanda – who was in a serious condition – to hospital.
“They could not get my son out of the car. That lady’s life was saved by a helicopter that I arranged. This woman has torn us apart. Not even an apology, nothing. She is trying to cover her back and does not even apologise to us. It’s not right, hey. It’s not right,” he said.
Queenstown police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Namhla Mdleleni confirmed that a case of culpable homicide had been opened. “The case is still under investigation. We are waiting for blood tests results,” said Mdleleni.
Feketshane said they were not aware of a police investigation. He said Makanda was back at work.
“The municipality is not aware of any pending culpable homicide case against our executive mayor,” he said.
Schoeman said it would have been Charl’s birthday today and that his friends and family would gather together to honour his life.
“My son was well liked in this town. We are still receiving messages of support. We have even opened a Facebook page for him, in his memory,” he said.
More than 500 people had posted messages of support by late yesterday.
“He died 100km from his house. We were waiting for him, preparing to welcome him with a nice braai. We were expecting him within 30 minutes to be at home and I got a call from the eyewitness that he was involved in an accident. It’s very hard to come to terms with this,” said Schoeman. — zineg@dispatch.co.za / siphem@dispatch.co.za
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