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In March, Nolwazi Tokhwe from Capricorn was knocked down by a Misionberg South African Police Service officer, causing a fractured pelvis and vertebrae. (Suné Payne/GroundUp)
- In March this year, Nolwazi Tokhwe was hit by a police car, resulting in a fractured pelvis and broken spine.
- She said she was fired in July because she couldn’t stand the excruciating pain.
- The mother of two now has to rely on social grants for her children and the family’s sole breadwinner – her sister.
Five months ago, a Cape Town woman Hit by a police carThe South African Police Service said it was still investigating the case. Meanwhile, Nolwazi Tokhwe said she had lost her job and her life had deteriorated dramatically. GroundUp Report.
In March, Tokwe was walking from her home in Capricorne to pick up young relatives who were attending a lively street party on Berg St. When she arrived, she found a chaotic scene with young people in disarray and police trying to disperse them.
Tokhwe said she was about to cross the street in the dark when a police car came “out of nowhere” and struck her, appearing to run over her right arm. Witnesses told GroundUp that the officer, who Tokhwe knew, did not stop to help her or check on her.
She suffered fractures to her pelvis and spine.
Tokwe said her life has become miserable since the incident.
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She has been fired from the call centre.
“I was fired in July, mainly because I had back pain and couldn’t adapt to work. Sometimes the pain was unbearable and I had to resign or take sick leave. Painkillers are no longer effective for me,” said Tokwe.
She was treated at Victoria Hospital for about a week before being discharged home to recuperate. She said she still cannot walk long distances or sit for long periods of time.
She added:
Now my sister is the only breadwinner and has to take care of six relatives in the family. I receive social assistance for my two children and I contribute part of it, but it is not enough.
She has filed a claim for unemployment benefits with the labor department.
Tokwe filed a lawsuit against the officer who hit her but said nothing major happened.
“I had received almost no information from the investigator since I opened the case in March. He came to my house last Wednesday but didn’t say much, except that the case file was sent to the prosecutor at the Misenburg District Court. He also asked me some questions about the incident,” she said.
Western Cape police spokesman Frederick Van Wyk confirmed that Tokwe’s case was still under investigation.
“The case file has been submitted to the prosecutor and is currently being processed by investigators. Once the investigation is completed, the case file will be returned to the prosecutor,” he said.
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But Tokwe worried that nothing could be done.
“I don’t hold out much hope,” she said.
“I still see the officer who ran me over in the area and sometimes he drives by my house. He didn’t even come up to me, face me and apologize for what he did, he just left me lying there.”
“I don’t think it’s fair that he still has a job and his life is going on, but mine is in shambles.”
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