Delay in mayor crash probe

No statements were taken from witnesses of the fatal car crash involving Amathole district municipality mayor Nomfusi Nxawe, police have confirmed.

This, as the family of Alice policeman Warrant Officer Mluleki Goda, 53, who was killed in the March 8 accident, accuse police of a cover-up.

Goda’s wife Zanele, 48, said her son Likho, 25, was with his father when the accident happened. Zanele said no statements had been taken from Likho.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said while a culpable homicide case had been opened, statements from witnesses would only be taken this week. Soci denied the cover-up allegations.

“SAPS can confirm that the case of culpable homicide has been opened and is under investigation by Alice SAPS.

“The statement will be taken from all the surviving witnesses, including WO Goda’s son.

“WO Goda’s son was immediately taken to hospital after the accident and a statement could not be taken then.”

Goda, who worked for the SAPS for 32 years, was buried at his Clubview home in King William’s Town on Friday.

He is survived by his wife and four children.

ADM spokesperson Nonceba Madikizela-Vuso had earlier said the mayor’s MercedesBenz SUV 2016 model was written off, while Nxawe and two of her bodyguards were injured.

Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said an earlier report in the Dispatch that two people had died in the accident was incorrect, and that only Goda had been killed.