A Mdantsane family was left with a partly demolished home at the weekend after an allegedly drunk off-duty police officer lost control of his private vehicle.
Two members of the Simandla family from NU3 were lucky to escape alive on Saturday night when a speeding Mazda Etude drove into their home, ending up in the lounge.
The force of the impact has left cracks in many walls.
Bukiwe Simandla and her brother were in bed at the time of the crash.
While she did not suffer any direct injuries resulting from the accident, Simandla had to be taken to Nontyatyambo Community Health Centre for high blood pressure.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Simandla said her health had been affected after seeing the damage to her house.
“I heard a big sound and I really thought that it was a collision between vehicles outside our yard. I went to the lounge to see what was happening and I found all the furniture shifted and destroyed.
“The car was parked right inside our lounge. I was shocked, it was like a nightmare. While I stood there in shock of what had just happened, I saw the driver coming out of his car.
“He was drunk and visibly dizzy,” she said.
Family members said they initially opened a drunk driving case against the constable who works at the Mount Ruth railway police station, however they later withdrew the case after the accused committed to fixing the damaged fence, cracked and demolished walls and replace the damaged furniture inside.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed that no case had been opened. He said until a case had been opened no action would be taken against the constable.
Sibongile Simandla said they were disappointed to learn that the driver was a police officer.
“We were very shocked to learn that the man is actually a police officer and he knows what the law stipulates about such things.
“This has really affected us bad, I had to sleep in the open lounge just to try and protect the people sleeping in the bedrooms because crime is rife here in NU3,” Sibongile said.
The Dispatch was unable to get hold of the constable allegedly involved in the incident.
Drunk’ officer’s car crashes into house
Two members of the Simandla family from NU3 were lucky to escape alive on Saturday night when a speeding Mazda Etude drove into their home, ending up in the lounge.
The force of the impact has left cracks in many walls.
Bukiwe Simandla and her brother were in bed at the time of the crash.
While she did not suffer any direct injuries resulting from the accident, Simandla had to be taken to Nontyatyambo Community Health Centre for high blood pressure.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Simandla said her health had been affected after seeing the damage to her house.
“I heard a big sound and I really thought that it was a collision between vehicles outside our yard. I went to the lounge to see what was happening and I found all the furniture shifted and destroyed.
“The car was parked right inside our lounge. I was shocked, it was like a nightmare. While I stood there in shock of what had just happened, I saw the driver coming out of his car.
“He was drunk and visibly dizzy,” she said.
Family members said they initially opened a drunk driving case against the constable who works at the Mount Ruth railway police station, however they later withdrew the case after the accused committed to fixing the damaged fence, cracked and demolished walls and replace the damaged furniture inside.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi confirmed that no case had been opened. He said until a case had been opened no action would be taken against the constable.
Sibongile Simandla said they were disappointed to learn that the driver was a police officer.
“We were very shocked to learn that the man is actually a police officer and he knows what the law stipulates about such things.
“This has really affected us bad, I had to sleep in the open lounge just to try and protect the people sleeping in the bedrooms because crime is rife here in NU3,” Sibongile said.
The Dispatch was unable to get hold of the constable allegedly involved in the incident.
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