Pretoria – Almost three years after a deadly crash killed two bakery workers, the accused got his day in court after the intervention of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.
Vusi Shongwe appeared in Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court Tuesday, 3 June 2025, for the first time, charged with two counts of culpable homicide in connection with the collision he allegedly caused in the early hours of 20 August 2022.
Violet Matsho and Senzo Sithole died at the scene in WF Nkomo Street, Pretoria West.
Matsho, Sithole, and three other colleagues were on their way home to Atteridgeville from work at around 2:30 am on 20 August 2022.
According to the other passengers’ affidavits, a car driven by Shongwe veered onto their side of the road before colliding head-on with the car they were in.
Matsho’s older sister, Julia Matsho, a well-known and respected employee of AfriForum, approached AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit in November last year, concerned that the case was not being properly investigated.
The last time she or Julia Matsho family were contacted by the police or informed of the status of the case was in November 2022.
The case was led by Slang Maangwale, an investigator at the Private Prosecution Unit, who initiated contact with both the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure the matter was brought to the attention of senior officials.
The officials followed up on the case regularly to ensure it was eventually prosecuted.
Julia Matsho, accompanied by her siblings, expressed relief that the case was finally in court and hoped to see justice for her sister.
“Today I’m feeling very happy because since she died it’s the first time I have seen him (the accused),” Julia Matsho said.
“I just want justice to be served for my sister and her friend. I’m happy about AfriForum helping us, to help my family.”
Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, said despite the government’s ongoing campaign to make roads safer, there appears to be very little being done to hold those responsible for collisions accountable.
“Our experience shows that deadly road crashes are rarely properly investigated and are instead simply recorded, seemingly for reasons other than prosecuting the people who caused them,” said Bateman.
“Without accountability for reckless drivers, any attempt to change driver behaviour will be futile.
“Another theme we see is the police’s failure to keep victims of crime informed about case developments.
“AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit will continue to demand, on behalf of victims and their families, that cases be thoroughly investigated and those affected kept informed of developments to ensure justice.”
Shongwe applied for legal aid during the court appearance.
The case was adjourned to Thursday, 5 June 2025, to allow for docket disclosure.
