IPID INVESTIGATING A CASE OF CULPABLE HOMICIDE INVOLVING A POLICE CONSTABLE - STRAND CAS 317/12/2012

Media Statement
PRETORIA – 18 December 2012

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating a case of Culpable Homicide involving a 41 year old police constable stationed at SAPS Strand in the Western Cape.

It is alleged that the constable was driving a State vehicle en-route to Strand to attend to a complaint of fighting at about 17h45 on 14 December 2012. The Constable was driving at a high speed from Somerset West to Strand direction on the main Road, Strand. The vehicle he was driving collided with a 63 years old woman, Magret Elizabeth Gall who was standing in the middle of the road (white line) waiting for the traffic to pass so that she could cross to the other side of the road. The woman was taken to HH hospital where she was certified dead on arrival.

The IPID became aware of the incident on 15 December through the Stellenbosch Forensic Pathology Service (FPS). A case of Culpable Homicide was opened and IPID took over the investigation. As a result of the police failure to report the incident, IPID has initiated an investigation in terms of Section 33 of the IPID Act of 2011.

The post mortem was held on 18 December 2012 at Stellenbosch FPS and the Pathologist’s preliminary findings are that the deceased death is consistent with the accident as she suffered multiple head injuries.

No arrest has been made so far. The Investigation continues.

Issued by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate

For enquiries:
IPID National Spokesman
Moses Dlamini
082 809 1927
mdlamini@ipid.gov.za