Mahlobo’s VIP crash must be investigated by IPID, and by Parliament

27 December 2015

The Democratic Alliance has offered deepest condolences in person to the family of Mr Hermanus Van Schalkwyk, who passed away on Wednesday 23 December 2015, in a car crash, when hit head-on by Minister David Mahlobo’s VIP convoy.

The DA will tomorrow file with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) a complaint in terms of section 4(2)(b) of the IPID Act against the VIP protectors who were reportedly speeding while driving Minister Mahlobo’s VIP convoy at the time of a risky overtake manoeuvre that killed Hermanus Van Schalkwyk, as VIP protectors are members of the SAPS.

We will open the 2016 Parliamentary year with questions to Minister Mahlobo about his urgent and rapid transport needs, that required speeding VIP convoys and reckless driving. We will ask Mahlobo what business of government he was on at the time of the crash, and what the need for such haste was at the time of the accident.

The DA will also report Minister Mahlobo to Parliament’s Ethics Committee for leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and for not ensuring that medical assistance was secured for the victim.

The DA has learnt from a witness to the crash that the first vehicle of the VIP convoy was a Mercedes Benz which bypassed a stationery vehicle in its direct path on the left of that vehicle, and a second VIP vehicle of the convoy,  a Jeep, then passed the stationary vehicle on the right, heading directly into Van Schalkwyk’s path. The splitting of the convoy around the stationary vehicle appears to have directly caused this tragic crash.

A third VIP vehicle then reportedly stopped and collected the occupants of the crashed Jeep, leaving the accident scene before medical assistance arrived for Van Schalkwyk. 

The family of Mr Van Schalkwyk has told the DA that they will not be welcoming Minister Mahlobo into their home to apologise, as they have opened a case of culpable homicide against the Minister and his VIP protectors. The family has also disclosed to the DA that they will be suing the state for damages.

The DA will take every Parliamentary action possible to ensure that Minister Mahlobo is brought to account for this senseless death. 

Statement issued by Ken Robertson MP, DA Constituency Head: Chief Albert Luthuli, Mpumalanga, 27 December 2015