Ford accused of being obstructionist in Kuga probe

FORD has deliberately obstructed the police’s investigation into the deadly Kuga fire which killed Reshall Jimmy, the police investigating officer claims.

Constable Thembekile Matwa, made the allegation in an affidavit handed into the Cape Town High Court yesterday .

The affidavit is in response to Ford’s earlier urgent high court application to gain access to all evidence in the police inquest docket into 33-year-old Jimmy’s death.

In its affidavit, Ford stated that it was the police and the Jimmy family who had deliberately thwarted them in their investigation into the cause of the fire.

The evidence they want includes video footage of the Kuga fire in which Jimmy burnt to death in December 2015 in the Wilderness.

In his affidavit, Matwa states that despite Ford representatives signing agreements to share information, including complaints from Jimmy to Ford about his vehicle, the company had refused to do so.

Matwa said he had found Ford’s conduct obstructionist.

The policeman cited how, when Ford’s fire inspector, Anthony Young, conducted his inspection on Jimmy’s car on January 20 last year he had pointed to two wires under the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle and said there had been arching between them.

Matwa said investigators from the police and Jimmy’s insurance company had agreed with Young.

“When I requested Young’s report from Ford, I was told that he [Young] had not provided it.”

But, when contacted, Young said he had given Ford the report on February 17 last year.

Matwa said when he phoned Ford again, he was told the company was in the “process of perusing it”.

Soon afterwards, a senior staff member from Ford asked him for his commander’s number.

“My commander then told me that Ford wanted a third inspection of the car.

“I told my commander that if they gave me their report, it will place me in a position to consult with all role players.”

Matwa said the only report he ever got was a preliminary one and a letter requesting another inspection of Jimmy’s car.

“I have received the police and insurance forensic reports, but up to this day I have not received the photographs and report by Young.

“The investigation is complete in all other respects except for the absence of the reports of Young.

“I also need to point out that I have also not received the report from the third inspection which was done by Ford on December 5 2016.”

Matwa believed it was in the public interest that Ford submit the information, especially details of the schematics of the burnt vehicle and Young’s report.

Since Jimmy’s death, 51 other Kugas have caught alight across South Africa. Two Kugas have also caught fire in Botswana and Swaziland.

Ford claims that other than Jimmy’s fire, the fires were caused by a faulty coolant system.

The company claims Jimmy’s fire started at the back of his vehicle, but it has been unable to explain what caused the blaze.