Hoho blows whistle on lover’s tiff hit-and-run

A case of an East London businesswoman apparently left paralysed from the neck down after claims her alleged lover drove over her, has gone uninvestigated for four months.

The matter was never reported to the police and the alleged perpetrator, Eastern Cape provincial legislature secretary Vuyani Mapolisa, has faced no charges.

The victim, Kumaro Gazo, is also an employee at the legislature, effectively making Mapolisa her boss.

Some four months later, with Gazo recuperating at Life St Dominic’s Rehabilitation Unit, the matter has now been brought to the attention of the legislature’s political leadership by former staffer and union leader Kerr Hoho.

In his letter, Hoho calls for the incident, which allegedly happened on March 28 at the upmarket Beacon Bay Bishops Estate, to be investigated.

Gazo’s family has asked for privacy and respect.

Hoho wrote to legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet, ANC chief whip Mzoleli Mrara, and National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) leadership, claiming Mapolisa had knocked down Gazo, who allegedly stood in front of his vehicle while he wanted to leave her residence.

“If a driver knocks down a pedestrian with a car, while he or she is holding a bonnet of that car, that can only be attempted murder or recklessness or gross negligence or insanity/drunk , but it is unlikely to be mistaken innocence.

“That is why it must be investigated honourable speaker ,” said Hoho.

ANC chief whip at the legislature, Mzoleli Mrara, confirmed receiving Hoho’s letter this week and had written to legislature speaker Noxolo Kiviet on Wednesday giving her 14 days “to confirm the contents of the letter and to tell us how she will approach such allegations contained in it”.

The legislature’s spokeswoman, Nombulelo Mosana, confirmed that the legislature had received Hoho’s letter, adding that “it is extremely important that the publication from the said former employee of the legislature be treated with greatest caution”. She accused Hoho of trying to “scandalise” Mapolisa for a matter related to Hoho’s legal tussles with the legislature.

“The institution is aware that Ms Gazo has been involved in an accident and that she is on sick leave as a result,” Mosana said.

“She has applied for sick leave and the same was granted in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the applicable legislature policies.

“Where an employee is on sick leave, he or she gets full pay unless the sick leave days are exhausted.

“Ms Gazo still has sick leave days to her credit and she is getting paid and to do otherwise will be unfair labour practice and illegal.

“It is not possible to disclose the details of her sick leave and her condition because this is confidential and may expose the institution to litigation.

“It is also going to be insensitive to require Ms Gazo to explain the nature and circumstances of the accident instead of assisting her on her road to recovery.”

Hoho said legislature’s multiparty women’s caucus staged a march in June in protest against women and children abuse, while they knew one of its employees had allegedly committed a violent crime against a woman staffer.

“They allow the legislature administration to be led by this someone facing the most brutal and barbaric act against a young woman,” claimed Hoho.

The alleged incident. which apparently crippled Gazo. took place after the Bafana Bafana soccer match against Angola at the Absa Stadium.

Apparently, after the match, a group of friends went to party at Gazo’s house and there were initial plans to go to Gazo’s upmarket restaurant, La Cuisenette – but it was closed at the time and so they went to Bishop’s Estate.

While in the house, Mapolisa is believed to have received a call and decided to leave, to which Gazo is said to have objected.

Mapolisa allegedly got into his black Jeep Cherokee and Gazo is alleged to have stood in front of the vehicle to stop him from leaving.

Mapolisa is then alleged to have driven into Gazo, and then left.

For the past three months, the Dispatch has been trying to piece together what happened on the night that left Gazo seriously injured.

When contacted by the Dispatch in May, a family member, Luyanda Mbula said it was a private family matter, and contacted again this week, Mbula would not respond.

This week, the Dispatch visited Bishop’s Estate and met with Gazo’s sister on her way to St Dominic’s Hospital to visit her.

She would not talk about her or what the family had decided to do regarding the incident.

Mapolisa this week refused to comment, saying it was a private matter and the Dispatch should instead speak to Gazo’s family.

But Gazo’s colleagues and friends who spoke to the Dispatch on condition of anonymity said they were worried about the silence around the incident.

“We’ve been calling for someone to report this matter to the police. Gazo’s friend knows about this, she should have done something but we know that the perpetrator is her boss – that will be difficult for her,” said a source.

Another friend called on the police to act.

“Why is the perpetrator still walking free and why is there no action taken? The family is quiet, who stopped them?”

Beacon Bay police spokesman Captain Nkosikho Mzuku said a family member could open a case on Gazo’s behalf.

“If the victim can’t be able to do that, a concerned family member can report this to the police,” said Mzuku.

Gazo remains in hospital and the hospital’s Bruce Jansens said due to patient confidentiality policies, they were unable to assist with any interview with Gazo.