Has Premier Nomvula Mokonyane reneged on her promises to Thomas Ferreira?
The family of Thomas Ferreira, the teenager knocked over in Krugersdorp by Gauteng Local Government and Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi's blue light car, is facing a bleak and stressful Christmas.
After repeated promises from Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane to pay the medical bills, nothing has been forthcoming. No payment, no written undertaking to cover the costs and no peace of mind for the Ferreiras.
This family has borne the trauma of seeing a loved one in a protracted coma and suffering from brain damage, and now live with the secondary trauma caused by the insensitivity of the Premier and the lack of visible results from the investigation of the accident.
The costs of the rehabilitation centre to which Thomas has now been moved are around R 120 000 per month and although some of his medical costs have thus far been covered by his medical aid, there are a number of costs which have not and more which may not be in future.
I have today written to Provincial Police Commissioner, Mzwandile Petros to establish the current status of the investigation (see letter below).