POLOKO TAU
SIX-YEAR-OLD Tshepang Mokoena had just scored a goal. Still in a celebratory mood, he told everyone around him he was going to buy an ice lolly.
He never did. Tshepang was hit by a car while he was on the pavement and dragged for about 50m.
While dragging him, the car reportedly hit a brick, then drove over the tiny body before stopping.
Tshepang’s traumatised friends watched as his weeping mother, Happiness Mokoena, stood in the rain holding his lifeless body.
Angered by Tuesday’s tragic incident, residents took to Lekankagata Street in Zone 7, Meadowlands, and barricaded a long stretch of the street with logs, stones and rubbish.
Tshepang’s aunt, Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, said the child had been taught to observe the rules of the road and not play in the street.
“After all the efforts of being taught how to stay safe, a car left the road and hit him while he was on the pavement. We’re told that the driver was speeding and seemed to have lost control.”
Ndlovu described Tshepang as a “very intelligent and bubbly boy, hence he was going to start his Grade 2 at just six years”. He would have been seven in October.
“His mother is devastated, especially after watching his child’s body lying in the rain from 6pm till about 10pm, when the mortuary van arrived to collect it.”
Resident Boyboy Mtambo said Lekankagata Street was to remain barricaded “until we get a response on when the speed humps will be built”.
“For about four years we have signed petitions requesting speed humps in Lekankagata and other busy streets... but we have never received any positive response from authorities. The last casualty was in the first week of December, when someone was hit by a car down the road from the spot where Tshepang died.
“The community wanted to dig small furrows in the road, but took advice to sign another petition and keep the road closed until we get speed humps. We will close more roads by Saturday if our request is not responded to.”
Mtambo said Lekankagata was often used by “speeding taxis as a diversion whenever there is a roadblock on the main road, Maseru Street”.
Another resident, William Baepi, said the community was “not going to rest until speed humps are built in the area to prevent accidents”.
Johannesburg Roads Agency spokesman Thulani Makhubela said he was not aware of the request for speed humps.
“I need to have this checked and am also not in position to say immediately what are the procedures that must taken by the community requesting speed humps as they might have changed.”
Police could not be reached for comment on the accident, but Netcare 911 spokesman Jeffrey Wicks said the driver of the car that allegedly hit Tshepang was arrested.