Advertisement
Zuma's Son Investigated Over Fatal Car Crash: South African Media
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma attends the opening ceremony of the 22nd Ordinary Session of the African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, January 30, 2014. PHOTO BY REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
09/02/2014
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane, is being investigated for culpable homicide after his Porsche 911 sports car ploughed into a minivan in Johannesburg, killing one person and critically injuring two, media said on Sunday.
The crash happened late on the evening of February 1 during heavy rain but was only linked to Duduzane this weekend, just one day after his father announced a general election on May 7.
If Duduzane is found to have been driving recklessly, the incident will be another embarrassment to Zuma, who is already fighting a scandal over a 206 million rand state-funded security upgrade to his private home.
Police confirmed the details of the accident but declined to name the driver or victims, in line with common practice in South Africa.
"One person died and two are still in hospital. We are investigating culpable homicide," Johannesburg police spokesman Neville Malila said. The investigation might take two to three weeks to complete, he added.
The Sunday Times newspaper named the dead person as 30-year-old Zimbabwean Phumzile Dube. It quoted her husband, Themba, criticising Duduzane for not contacting the family or offering to help pay for her funeral.
"Zuma killed my wife and I want justice," Dube told the newspaper. "It doesn't matter whether he is the president's son - justice doesn't have eyes. Everybody is equal before the law."
The news report said Duduzane, a wealthy businessman, had not been breathalyzed.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) urged Zuma and his government - which is likely to win re-election in May - to assure South Africans that there would be no interference in the investigation.
"The DA will closely monitor this case to ensure that there is no cover-up," shadow police minister Dianne Kohler Barnard said in a statement. "No one, including the Zumas, is above the law."
A government spokesmen declined to comment and Reuters could not reach Duduzane. The Sunday Times and Sunday World newspapers said his mobile phone rang unanswered.
Add new comment