Kabelo Tlhabanelo
Butana Komphela was once the MEC for police, roads and transport in the Free State, but now he is a convicted criminal.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Komphela caused a car crash that killed a passenger in another car.
On Monday, the Brandfort Magistrate’s Court in Free State heard that Komphela was driving from the direction of Theunissen to Bloemfontein on 6 January 2019 when his BMW crossed two barrier lines and collided with a Volkswagen Polo with five occupants driving in the opposite direction. The Polo was heading to Marikana in the North West.
“The accused is a former MEC who was responsible for roads and he knows that the road is a high accident zone,” said State Prosecutor, Mpoti Chalale.
According to an accident scene expert, the cause of the accident could only be human error because the mechanical condition of the car did not cause it to swerve and the road was in good condition.
“It was proven that Komphela was driving at about 150km per hour in a 80km/h zone,” said NPA spokesperson Phaladi Shuping.
Shuping told Scrolla.Africa: “The Polo rolled several times and Samuel Manyova, 50, who was one of the passengers, died at the scene. Other occupants suffered minor injuries.”
The magistrate sentenced Komphela to three years’ imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during the period of suspension.
Scrolla.Africa couldn’t reach Komphela for comment as his phone went on voicemail.
