Pretoria - A motorcyclist burnt to death in the early hours of Monday morning in an accident in Olievenhoutbosch when his motorbike was hit by a van.
According to the Tshwane Metro Police, the man on the motorbike collided with a van and the bike burst into flames on impact, trapping the motorcyclist.
Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the van was trying to avoid the service delivery protest that was under way in the township when he crashed into the motorbike.
“The van was making a U-turn to avoid the traffic backlog which was created by the protest and didn’t see the motorbike. That’s when they collided,” Mahamba said. The accident happened at about 5am.
Both drivers were travelling from the R55 south which runs past Olievenhoutbosch. Rubble, rocks, and burning tyres were used by protesters to barricade the road, making it inaccessible.
“The driver of the van managed to slip out of the van with no injuries before he noticed the motorcyclist was trapped in the fire caused by the collision,” Mahamba said.
He was rushed to hospital after suffering trauma from the accident.
When the Pretoria News team arrived on the scene, about 60 people had gathered around the site of the horrific crash. The charred remains and skull of the motorcyclist could be seen next to the burnt van. Forensic specialists were examining the site, while metro police diverted traffic away from the crash.
The service delivery protest, which began at about 2am, was apparently started by a small group of people demanding RDP houses.
A community member said the group rampaged through the township, leaving behind them a trail of destruction. “We don’t even know who they are. But we know that they were striking because they want houses,” said Abel Mokoena.
City spokesman Blessing Manale said the city was aware of the protest and knew the root of the issue. “The group of protesters call themselves ‘The Olievenhoutbosch Backyard Dwellers’ and were demanding houses,” Manale said.
“We can’t have people protesting because they have been waiting for however long for social relief from the government.
“It’s a process which they are trying to undermine and jump the queue. They have to be patient because we have a process to follow.”
Manale said the city rarely experienced problems in Olievenhoutbosch, explaining that the city had acquired land around the township on which it would be building low cost houses.
Pretoria News