Cape Town - The motorist alleged to have killed a cyclist in a hit-and-run accident on Monday night has handed himself over to the police.
Durbanville police spokesman, Lieutenant Marcell Rhode told the Cape Argus that a 40-year-old man from the Klipheuwel informal settlement in Durbanville had handed himself over to the police at 7am on Tuesday and admitted to running over 47-year-old Johan Schoeman.
“He is in police custody,” Rhode said.
The date for his court appearance had yet to be confirmed.
Schoeman, of Eversdal, was knocked down on Klipheuwel Road near Durbanville. A witness told the Cape Argus the accident had torn Schoeman’s bicycle to shreds.
Schoeman was a partner at HGG Financial Group in Durbanville. The chief executive of the group, Hendrik Gerryts, said on Tuesday they were shocked by Schoeman’s death.
“In his five years with the HGG family Schoeman truly made his mark. His dedication and client focus were commendable, as was his outstanding attention to detail.
“Our hearts go out to his wife, Elzette, and his two children, Emily (8) and Isabelle (6),” said Gerryts.
Schoeman’s funeral will take place on Friday at the Dutch Reformed Church in Durbanville.
Following the incident, the Pedal Power Association (PPA) called on the government to take action to make the roads safer for cyclists.
Association chairman Steve Hayward said the group was deeply saddened by the deaths of Schoeman and another cyclist, Ronnie Mansell, 71, who was killed over the weekend.
Mansell was knocked over by a taxi on his way to the annual Amashova Durban Classic cycling race in Pietermaritzburg.
He survived the collision but later died at a local health care facility.
“Without positive intervention from the government, we are going to see more of these unfortunate incidents. Cyclists will be maimed and killed while motorists will start going to jail,” said Hayward.
“We as PPA challenge the authorities to do more in the protection of the cycling community. This starts in checking the competency of the motorist at a testing level, as well as providing more space for cyclists at a road planning level.”
The PPA is South Africa’s largest cycling association with more than 15 000 members.
Hayward said cyclists countrywide were concerned about their safety on the roads because of poorly designed roads, aggressive driving and the lack of signage, as well as not enough safe cycling lanes.
“To date no motorist responsible for the death of a cyclist has got a meaningful sentence, some even get off scot-free,” said Hayward.
“There is obviously something wrong with our legal justice system and PPA is not going to sit and watch as criminals get away with murder. If this case has merit, PPA will take the necessary action.”
Cape Argus