Family will focus on Jamie’s life
Father of young crash victim pleads for more care on the road
JAMIE Baartzes’s family does not want to focus on her alleged killer’s court case. For now, they just want to honour the memory of the beautiful, vibrant young woman she had become. But that doesn’t mean her family is not angry – they are relying on prayer to get them through, her father, Justin Uren, said yesterday, on the eve of young Jamie’s funeral.
The 19-year-old Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student was killed in a head-on collision on the M4 while returning home from a study session in the early hours of Tuesday.
The driver of the other vehicle, Amos Sinyama, 28, was alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol and driving on the wrong side of the road when he crashed into her car.
This is the second such incident in less than a month where a Port Elizabeth teen has been killed, allegedly at the hands of a drunk driver, prompting the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to say enough is enough.
Last month, Jaydene Lucas, 16, died in hospital after being mowed down by an alleged drunk driver in Humewood Road while walking to the Navy Sea Cadet base with friends.
Lorren Abrahams, 20, who was struck by the same vehicle, is still recovering from serious injuries.
William Taute, 27, faces charges including driving under the influence of alcohol, culpable homicide and attempted murder.
Taute is out on bail and due back in court on May 10.
Similarly, Sinyama faces a charge of culpable homicide in relation to Jamie’s death. In addition, it is alleged he did not have a driver’s licence.
On Thursday, the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court released him on bail of R3 000 with his case postponed to May 23 for further investigation.
“Many of us take chances [on the road] and it only takes a minute for something to go horribly wrong,” an emotional Uren said yesterday.
“He [Sinyama] will at some stage have to answer to his maker, but for now a message needs to be sent out to all road users so that something like this does not happen again.
“Convincing yourself that you are okay to drive or driving with just a learner’s licence, you are putting not only your life but the lives of your passengers, pedestrians and other motorists in danger.”
With Jamie’s funeral taking place at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Arcadia at 9am today, Uren said the family did not want to focus on the court case. “We just want to focus on Jamie and putting her good memories to rest.”
“Obviously we are angry [and] feeling vindictive, but we are praying about these feelings and have to leave justice up to the courts now.”
Jamie matriculated from Westering High School.
She was in her second year, studying towards her Bachelor of Education degree at the time of her death.
Uren said with teaching in the family, and her love for children, she had been passionate about her studies.
“She was very creative and wanted to use this creativity to teach young children,” Uren said.
“She was so sociable and feisty, especially with her parents,” he managed to joke.
Meanwhile, NPA regional spokesman Tsepo Ndwalaza vowed that drunk drivers would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
“It is time we say enough is enough. Too many young people are losing their lives on our roads due to drunk drivers. We want to send out a strong message that this will not be tolerated. Driving under the influence or driving drunk is a very serious offence and perpetrators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Ndwalaza said.
JAMIE BAARTZES