The State Car 'Accident' in Thick Veil of Secrecy

Borrie la Grange
News24, SA
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Johannesburg (South Africa):
Why Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula's official car was involved in a collision with a taxi on the West Rand is a puzzle - and everyone is keeping mum about it. A thick veil of secrecy was drawn over the police investigation and the accident. Three taxi passengers - two women and the baby of one of them - were seriously injured and the driver of the official car apparently fled.
Police records show that the official car, a luxury Mercedes-Benz, collided head-on with the minibus taxi at 13:45 on Saturday in Tsepisong, near Roodepoort. It is not clear how many people were in the official car nor why it was in the area. It was reported that Nqakula's brother was apparently behind the wheel when the accident happened.
Police said it was not clear who was driving the official car, but they were looking for the driver because he apparently had left the scene of an accident. Police on the West Rand and national police spokesperson Sally de Beer referred reporters to the minister's office for comment. Spokesperson for Nqakula and the ministry Trevor Bloem said: "I can't comment about this and will not be able to.
There is no one else who can comment." Bloem did not want to confirm whether the government vehicle that hit the taxi was Nqakula's official car.
Nov 01, 2005