Kamogelo Seekoei
Kamogelo Seekoei
After Sowetan's expose of a poor police investigation into a Wolmaransstad accident in which two people died three weeks ago, a similar accusation has again been levelled at the same police.
Tshidi Tau, a former Wolmaransstad resident, claimed that her husband died in an accident in the area and that his case was also not thoroughly investigated.
Tau said the case of her husband, who died in an accident 12 years ago, was dismissed by the court because "there was no sufficient evidence".
Peter Nechipal, Tau's late husband, was a principal at Ipelegeng in Schweizer-Reneke.
"The case was dismissed in court because I was told I failed to appear in court and that there was not sufficient evidence," said Tau.
But Tau is adamant that police altered statements because she said when she first went to the Wolmaransstad police station she saw a two-page hand-written statement by one of the investigating officers.
But when she went to the police station for the second time she was given a one-page statement, which was also hand written.
She claimed that the police's statement said insufficient evidence was gathered at the scene of the accident.
Tau said because she was unhappy with the court's decision she decided to look for help from the highest offices in the country, but she was unsuccessful.
"I went to the public protector and the justice minister's office, but no one was helpful," she said.
Tau said she approached Sowetan because she wanted justice to be done in the case of the recent Wolmaransstad accident victims.
The recent accident happened after an Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows match in Potchefstroom three weeks ago.
Andries Sebico, 37, and Aphus "Mavusana" Mashi, 32, both Orlando Pirates fans, were killed when a car hit the rear of their stationary vehicle.
"I thought I should speak up about this incompetence by the Wolmaransstad police for this thing to stop, otherwise these families will suffer like I did," Tau said.
"I don't want these families to go through what I experienced. If they don't follow this up, they will not know what exactly happened. The bereaved families will not be paid for their loss," she said.
Wolmaransstad police said Tau's case was no longer within their jurisdiction because the case had already been taken to court where it was dismissed.
"You must contact the Department of Justice with this matter. They will be the ones to know what to do," said Senior Superintendent Pieter du Plessis, a police spokesman for the Potchefstroom police.
The Wolmaransstad magistrates' court could not be reached for comment.
Past incompetence haunts cops
Kamogelo Seekoei
Kamogelo Seekoei
After Sowetan's expose of a poor police investigation into a Wolmaransstad accident in which two people died three weeks ago, a similar accusation has again been levelled at the same police.
Tshidi Tau, a former Wolmaransstad resident, claimed that her husband died in an accident in the area and that his case was also not thoroughly investigated.
Tau said the case of her husband, who died in an accident 12 years ago, was dismissed by the court because "there was no sufficient evidence".
Peter Nechipal, Tau's late husband, was a principal at Ipelegeng in Schweizer-Reneke.
"The case was dismissed in court because I was told I failed to appear in court and that there was not sufficient evidence," said Tau.
But Tau is adamant that police altered statements because she said when she first went to the Wolmaransstad police station she saw a two-page hand-written statement by one of the investigating officers.
But when she went to the police station for the second time she was given a one-page statement, which was also hand written.
She claimed that the police's statement said insufficient evidence was gathered at the scene of the accident.
Tau said because she was unhappy with the court's decision she decided to look for help from the highest offices in the country, but she was unsuccessful.
"I went to the public protector and the justice minister's office, but no one was helpful," she said.
Tau said she approached Sowetan because she wanted justice to be done in the case of the recent Wolmaransstad accident victims.
The recent accident happened after an Orlando Pirates and Moroka Swallows match in Potchefstroom three weeks ago.
Andries Sebico, 37, and Aphus "Mavusana" Mashi, 32, both Orlando Pirates fans, were killed when a car hit the rear of their stationary vehicle.
"I thought I should speak up about this incompetence by the Wolmaransstad police for this thing to stop, otherwise these families will suffer like I did," Tau said.
"I don't want these families to go through what I experienced. If they don't follow this up, they will not know what exactly happened. The bereaved families will not be paid for their loss," she said.
Wolmaransstad police said Tau's case was no longer within their jurisdiction because the case had already been taken to court where it was dismissed.
"You must contact the Department of Justice with this matter. They will be the ones to know what to do," said Senior Superintendent Pieter du Plessis, a police spokesman for the Potchefstroom police.
The Wolmaransstad magistrates' court could not be reached for comment.
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