INLSA

A frame from a video of Dante Hageman, 10, taken the day before she was killed.

NATASHA BEZUIDENHOUT

Staff Reporter

DANTE Hageman, 10, smiles shyly at the camera as she says her name and pirouettes in her pink dress. It is the day before she died.

Neighbour Jurg Schuhardp filmed the clip on his cellphone on the afternoon of February 9, not knowing it would be the last time he would see her.

The Grade 4 pupil was in a car with Jaco van Wyk and his daughters Sonja, 11, and Janika, 7, when convicted drunk driver Friedel Roller ploughed into their car in Hartenbos, Mossel Bay.

Sonja and Dante, pupils at Hartenbos Primary school, died at the scene.

“It was a 20-second clip, where Dante was being spontaneous, saying how nice it was to live in the neighbourhood. She was someone who always brightened everyone’s day. It is such a shock, I still can’t believe it,” Schuhardp said.

“He (Roller) shouldn’t get off easily. There are others like him who drink and drive.”

Roller, who has two previous convictions for drunken driving and negligent driving, appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

He faces two charges of murder; drunken driving; reckless and negligent driving; driving without a driving licence and an attempt to escape.

The case was postponed to March 14.

Frans Nel, 65, Dante’s grandfather, found it hard to speak outside court yesterday.

His eyes grew misty as he spoke of their grief.

“It is very difficult and such a huge loss for the family. We can’t come to terms with it; words can’t describe what it feels like.”

Nel said Dante was the kind of girl who was always the first to meet the new neighbours and she excelled in sport and schoolwork.

“She had such a bright future. Her parents are taking it so hard; they are an extremely close family and loved her very much.”

Sonja’s father Jaco, and her sister Janika, who were injured in the crash are still in the George Provincial Hospital.

“Jaco and Janika should be discharged from hospital in a few days.

“Janika is doing well after she had to undergo a hip (operation). It is still very difficult for the family,” said Eddie Pieterse, a family friend.

Michael Hough, a parent at the school, said drunk drivers should be taken to task.

“There should be breathalysers done when people leave clubs. The children died so young, it is such a tragedy.

“I think there should be stricter penalties when it comes to alcohol. When you drive you should have zero alcohol in your system.”

natasha.bezuidenhout@inl.co.za