Murder probe into CBD hijack crash

CAPE ARGUS

File photo: Henk Kruger

Cape Town - Police will bring murder charges against two alleged hijackers after a woman died when they crashed into her Opel Corsa in the CBD during a chase.

The woman, who was from Manatoka Heights, Melkbosstrand, has not been named by police.

“Her husband is very traumatised and asked that the media respect the family’s privacy in this time of grief. Police don’t normally release names under such circumstances, especially in light of the husband’s request,” said police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.

The woman’s husband found out about the incident soon after it happened at about 5.30am on Monday.

Police cordoned off the intersection of Buitengracht and Strand Street, where the incident occurred.

The husband was prevented from getting to the scene by the heavy traffic backlog caused by the road closure.

His sister, Janine Whelan, phoned in to CapeTalk on Monday.

“The roads are blocked off and we’re hoping that he can get to her. My heart just goes out to him. I just hope that he’ll be okay and that he’ll get to her. I just wanted to say to him that my heart goes out to him and that he must just be strong. We’re thinking of him,” she said.

Whelan’s brother could not get to his wife and her body was taken to the Salt River state mortuary. Whelan declined to comment when contacted yesterday, saying the family was grieving.

Van Wyk said the police’s flying squad received a call from Skytrack on the whereabouts of a hijacked Toyota Avanza in the early hours on Monday.

The vehicle, which had been hijacked in Nyanga, was travelling towards Cape Town when police vehicles started following it.

The suspects refused to pull over and a chase ensued.

In the city centre, they ran a red light at the intersection and crashed into the passenger side of the white Corsa.

“The occupant of the Opel Corsa died on the scene,” Van Wyk said.

The woman was on her way to work, he said, adding that the suspects were in police custody. They would appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court once they had been charged.

The suspects come from Bonita Hostel, Nyanga and Browns Farm, Phillippi.

daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za

Cape Argus