Mpumalanga police will thoroughly investigate a possible cover-up over a traffic official’s driving accident.
The conduct of police who allegedly refused to provide a blood-testing kit to the Nelspruit Medi-Clinic will be investigated, said Captain Benjamin Bhembe, Lowveld police spokesperson.
”We are also investigating how and why no case was opened against Charles Mdhluli. We are investigating negligence on the part of the police.”
Mdhluli crashed his Jetta into a tree on Thursday evening.
The head of the Mpumalanga traffic department and a key player in the Arrive Alive campaign, Mdhluli was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. He had to be cut out of his car by paramedics and was ”very aggressive”, according to eyewitnesses reports.
Bhembe said even if the hospital performed its own blood test, as had been reported in local newspapers, it would not be admissible as evidence against Mdhluli.
”I am afraid it is so. We don’t have a case against him if there is no official test. That’s why policemen are equipped with blood kits.”
Newspapers reported Mdhluli’s blood to contain four times the legal limit of alcohol: 0,22mg per 100ml.
The traffic department knew nothing of this blood test, and provincial director AJ Mahlangu finally said he would investigate the incident.
”There were many people at the scene of the accident. Why can’t they give us information?” the frustrated official said. ”I am not letting this thing go away.”
Meanwhile, the hospital also remained reticent, saying it is its duty to protect its patient.
Nursing manager Annetjie Meyer said Mdhluli’s family insisted the hospital reveal nothing to the media. — Sapa