Johannesburg - A 42-year-old man who allegedly drove into a roadblock, killing two metro police officers is expected to apply for bail on Thursday.
This while a wreath-laying ceremony and memorial service will be held in remembrance of the officers.
The City of Joburg said the memorial service, which will be attended by families of the deceased, is scheduled for 1 pm at the JMPD Training Academy in Booysens.
Sandton police spokesperson Captain Granville Meyer confirmed that Albert Pretorius made his first appearance in the Alexander Regional Court on Wednesday on charges of culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol.
The case was transferred from the Randburg Magistrate’s Court.
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Mother of three Winnie Mokgolo, 35, and her 45-year-old colleague Sophie Ngoasheng were killed after Pretorius allegedly lost control of his vehicle - a double cab bakkie - and rammed into the roadblock.
Ngoasheng had two children.
Meyer said the case was postponed to Thursday for formal bail application. Pretorius was three times over the legal alcohol limit.
Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said the families of the deceased were still traumatised.
Mayor Herman Mashaba visited the families this week and said the deceased and their colleagues had stopped three vehicles for a routine check when the driver of a double cab bakkie crashed into them.
Mashaba and MMC for Public Safety Michael Sun visited the families on Tuesday.
“MMC Sun and I are devastated that the City has lost more JMPD officers in such a manner. It is believed that the driver who caused the accident was drunk. Over the course of the past weekend alone, JMPD arrested 308 drunk drivers in Johannesburg.
““We will not tolerate such reckless and criminal behaviour. Drunk driving not only puts the driver of the vehicle at risk, but also places all other road users at risk as well. We send our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased JMPD officers, who were also our colleagues and friends,” said Mashaba.
ER24 said the accident happened shortly before 9pm.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the incident is not yet known; however, it is believed that a vehicle crashed into the roadblock, killing two officers and injuring occupants of vehicles that were parked at the roadblock,” said spokesperson Werner Vermaak.
The injured were transported to a nearby hospital for further care.