GEORGE NEWS - A tragic hit-and-run in Thembalethu that claimed the life of a five-year-old boy has sparked a series of investigations allegedly involving a police vehicle. Another young child was injured in the accident, which occurred in broad daylight on the afternoon of 29 July in Zone 6, and has since been released from hospital.

It is alleged that the young children, who were crossing Nelson Mandela Boulevard, were struck by a white Nissan Hardbody of the Thembalethu Detective branch that was driven by a warrant officer stationed there.

It is further alleged that the officer, who was on duty at the time, left the scene without reporting the accident.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies said this week that the matter has been referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) for further investigation. "Ipid is therefore best placed to provide further information in this regard," he said.

Phaladi Shuping, Ipid spokesperson, did not respond to questions from the newspaper for details of the accident and allegations, but confirmed that the matter was reported to them and said it is under investigation.

The accident has raised serious concerns about the conduct of the police officer involved. Police allegedly had to investigate the accident, only to discover their colleague's possible involvement.

Reliable sources told George Herald that the officer sped away from the scene and drove back to the police station where he first parked the bakkie at the front of the station, mentioning to his passenger that he was going to report the accident.

After a while he came back out to the vehicle and drove around to the back of the police station where he parked the bakkie, which showed none to little damage, before he walked home.

It was only the following day that the allegations of the officer's involvement surfaced.

In response to a request for comment from Garden Route District Commissioner Major General Norman Modishana, Spies said Modishana noted the allegations around the involvement of a police vehicle.

"We considered these allegations as serious and an internal investigation was already instituted to determine the veracity of the allegations. The outcomes of this investigation would determine the appropriate steps to be taken."

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