In a heartbreaking incident in Delft, Cape Town, an 11-year-old girl tragically lost her life when a speeding police van crashed into a shack on Saturday evening, October 4. The young victim, Namhla Nondala, was sitting with two friends outside a shop when the marked police vehicle, responding to an emergency call, lost control and veered off the road. The van struck the shack, fatally injuring Namhla and sending her two friends, both 10 years old, to the hospital.
A Community in Shock
Namhla’s family is grappling with the sudden loss. Her uncle, Zola Ndalasi, who rushed from Hermanus upon hearing the news, described the scene as devastating. “She had gone to buy chips with her two friends. We heard that the van was speeding with its siren on. It lost control, hit a shack, and crashed into the kids sitting opposite the shop,” he recounted.
Namhla’s grandmother, Tantaswa Ndalasi, shared her anguish, stating that she had left Namhla at home that afternoon. “When I returned, her sister and two friends came running to my cousin’s house crying. They said: ‘It’s Namhla, makhulu.’ I ran home and found people gathered around. Namhla and her friends were under zinc sheets with a police bakkie next to them,” she recalled.
Official Response and Investigation
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has launched an investigation into the incident. According to IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping, three officers from the Delft Police Station were driving a marked police vehicle en route to a reported murder in progress around 6:30 PM when the crash occurred.
Community leader Tyelevuyo Mjayezi expressed the collective grief, emphasizing the family’s struggle. “The gogo looks after the kids by selling chips and drinks. They never imagined having to bury an 11-year-old. Police must take responsibility and ensure the kid is laid to rest with dignity,” he said.
A Call for Accountability
This tragic event has sparked a broader conversation about road safety and police conduct in residential areas. Residents and community leaders are calling for stricter enforcement of speed limits and more cautious driving by law enforcement vehicles, especially in densely populated areas. The community awaits the outcome of the IPID’s investigation, hoping for justice and accountability in the wake of this devastating loss.
As the family and community mourn, they also seek assurances that measures will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future, ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.
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