Aaron Motsoaledi visited the family on Friday (15/5) after his official state vehicle struck and killed a woman and her infant. Beauty Shoperai was killed while crossing the N1 near Bela-Bela on Saturday (9/5) evening. 

Her husband had died minutes earlier in a similar accident on the other side of the highway.

Motsoaledi vowed to help repatriate their remains to Zimbabwe. He said he had been in the back seat of his official vehicle when he saw something in front of the car.

“Before you could even think, there was this smash, and you discover that it actually hit human beings. It has been very, very difficult.

“I was just a person who happened to be in a vehicle that got involved in an unfortunate accident. And of course, the family did say that to me. I’m very humbled.

“During my visit, we discussed, we prayed together, and we saw a way we could help each other.” 

Shoperai, 37, was run over with her son, Paul Masunda, 1, strapped to her back. She was trying to cross the highway to where her husband was lying after he was killed by a vehicle driven by an off-duty police officer.

The couple’s other child, 14, survived. The police investigative division, Ipid, has taken over the investigation into the accident, as both drivers were police members. One state vehicle was driven by a member of the protection security services, and the other by an off-duty police member.

The chairperson of the portfolio committee on police, Ian Cameron, said he will closely monitor the investigation into the accident involving the health minister.

“I will monitor the matter closely and follow up to ensure the investigation is conducted properly, independently, and transparently, and that the affected family receives answers.

“Behind every case number are real people, grieving families, and lives permanently changed.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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