The family of a woman who was knocked over and killed by a taxi in Table View say they are hoping to get justice.
Martha Macho, a 34-year-old woman from Dunoon, was crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing on Thursday morning when she was hit by the taxi.
Her family is still trying to deal with the loss and her younger sister, Mai Muriya, said the whole family was finding it difficult to cope with her death.
The family is originally from Zimbabwe.
“My sister had the old Zimbabwean identity book, which was discontinued. My uncle went to the embassy (Monday October 28) to try and get her paperwork sorted out so that we can take her body and lay her to rest in our home country.
“Her children are really taking it hard, but we want to have a viewing of the body so that family members may have a brief consolation” said Ms Muriya.
Table View SAPS spokeswoman Captain Adriana Chandler said a doctor had been on the scene by the time the police had arrived.
“She had succumbed to her injuries shortly after being hit by the taxi. The taxi driver was still at the scene and was arrested,” she said.
The suspect was charged with culpable homicide. He appeared at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday October 28, where he was released on
R2 000 bail.
The taxi is part of the Dunoon Taxi Association (DTA).
Captain Chandler said soon after the suspect’s release, he was arrested again by the City’s traffic services in Parow for unpaid fines and failure to appear in court.
He was set to appear on the traffic infringement charges on Tuesday October 29.
DTA secretary general Frank Qotyiwe said they were saddened by the news and wished to express their condolences to the family.
“We can only let the law run its course at the moment. And despite the fact that there might be allegations of reckless driving, let us not treat this differently from any other accident. Just because a taxi is involved, people shouldn’t use that as an excuse to condemn the taxi industry,” he said.
Grant Lemos, Table View Neighbourhood Watch chairman, said he was worried aboutwhat he says is an increase in accidents involving pedestrians.
There had been two fatal road accidents in the area this month, he said.
“People are driving recklessly on the roads, and I suspect that drinking and driving is a major contributor to these accidents. People should be more mindful of their surroundings when they are on the roads.”
On Sunday October 20, two people were arrested and charged with culpable homicide after they allegedly knocked down and killed a man (“Two arrested over death of homeless man in Table View,” Tabletalk, October 23).
Table View Community Police Forum chairman David Harris said the area was seeing an increase in acts of lawlessness by taxi drivers, from dangerous driving to acts of intimidation against the public.
“The City of Cape Town’s response to taxi infringements has lately been quite positive. We would like to see more taxi operations by Traffic and Law Enforcement in Table View,” he said.
Ms Macho is the third youngest of four sisters. According to Ms Muriya, her sister was on her way to work when she was killed.
“She worked as a domestic worker for a number of people as she would get recommendations because she did her job well and people liked her. She was a really nice person, a God-fearing woman and a wonderful mother of three.
“We hope that we will get justice for what happened to our sister,” said Ms Muriya.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and might have any information is asked to contact the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Karl Matthee at 079 894 1257.
Captain Chandler said anyone who might have witnessed the incident and been traumatised by it could get help at the Table View police station.