Pretoria - Advocate Gerrie Nel head of AfriForum's private prosecution unit, will be supporting the Jimmy family against Ford Motor Company after Reshall Jimmy burnt to death in December 2015.
“The criminal justice system of South Africa failed the victim in this case.
"The family has been waiting for almost three years for the case to be investigated and AfriForum wrote letters imploring the Magistrate’s Court in George to hold a formal inquest,” Nel said.
Nel announced this at their offices in Centurion during a press briefing.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) decided not to prosecute Ford and denied the family a nolle prosequi (will no longer prosecute) certificate because they were awaiting the results of the inquest.
Advocate Gerrie Nel head of AfriForum's private prosecution unit, announced they will be supporting the Jimmy family against Ford Motor Company. Video: Sakhile Ndlazi
Afriforum has monitored and assisted with the process leading to the announcement of a formal inquest to be held before a judge of the high court, which will start on February 4 2019.
The family have been engaged in a relentless battle to get answers from Ford since December 2015 as to why his car caught alight.
Jimmy burnt to death while on holiday in the Wilderness in the Western Cape.
Since his car caught alight‚ more than 80 other Kugas caught fire on SA's roads‚ resulting in the global motoring giant having to recall over 4000 Kugas as part of several safety fixes to the vehicles.
Jimmy's sister‚ Renisha Jimmy‚ confirmed that the family had received a notice from the registrar of the Western Cape High Court that the inquest would be held on February 4.