By Buziwe Nocuze
A six-year-old boy has lost his life after being knocked down by a Toyota Avanza while playing on the pavement on Thursday at Crossroads in Cape Town.
Alunamda Mazele was playing with friends, and at that moment, he was pretending to be a pastor praying for other kids.
He was struck on the head by a speeding Avanza that veered off the road.
Zanele Mazele, the victim’s mother, received the sad news while she was at work.
“My son couldn’t see the speeding Toyota Avanza coming in his direction because his eyes were closed since he was praying, I don’t know if it’s a coincidence that he died praying because he loved praying and always told us that he wanted to be a pastor so that he could heal sick people,” said Mazele.
Even in the house, the victim would pray.
“I am hurt that the driver decided to run away after knocking my son. Maybe if he had stopped and rushed him to the hospital, he was going to survive.”
A community member took down the registration number of the Toyota Avanza.
“I was hoping that the taxi association would assist me in finding the driver since I have the registration number, but I was shocked when I was informed that they could not assist me because the Toyota Avanza didn’t have a sticker on it,” said Zanele.
The sticker carries the taxi owner’s initials and a short number and is fixed by the taxi association to the front and back of the vehicle.
“The incident happened on Thursday, but I haven’t started the funeral arrangements because I don’t have money,” she said.
What Zanele wants is to bury her son with dignity. She wants the owner to help bury her son.
“I am asking anyone who has the means to help me bury my son.”
Nkosiyakhe Ndlebe, chairperson of the Khikhi Murray Taxi Association, said they are not refusing to assist in incidents like these. But it becomes very difficult to find the owner if the Toyota Avanza doesn’t have a sticker fixed to the vehicle.
They are trying to come up with solutions on how to deal with Avanzas without stickers.
“While we are still figuring out what to do, we would like to ask our passengers to stop using Avanzas without stickers. It is also for their safety,” he said.
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said Nyanga SAPS is investigating a case of culpable homicide.
“According to reports, the victim was playing with friends when he was knocked by a white Toyota Avanza. The driver fled the scene and is yet to be arrested,” said Swartbooi.
Pictured above: Alunamda Mazele, a six-year-old boy, was playing with other kids when he was knocked down by a Toyota Avanza.
Image source: Supplied
