BOTSHABELO – The police in the Free State will pay their last respects to Sgt Tshediso Lucas Semenyane (47) at an official funeral to be held at the Seemahale High School Hall in Botshabelo tomorrow – Saturday 26 September. The proceedings are set to start at 08:00.
A memorial service for Semenyane was held at the Norman Doubell Hall in Heidedal on Wednesday 23 September.
Semenyane died on 12 September in a head-on collision involving a white Toyota Quantum minibus on the N8 national route. A colleague, as well as the 34-year-old driver of the minibus, survived with severe injuries sustained during the fatal accident. The pair are recovering in hospital in Bloemfontein, where they are receiving medical treatment.
Semenyane’s career in the South African Police Service (SAPS) spanned 21 years. He was attached to the Bloemspruit Community Service Centre (CSC) in Bloemfontein at the time of his death.
Lt Col. Thabo Covane, provincial spokesperson for the police, said Semenyane was part of the police team travelling in a convoy of four vehicles. They were attending to community complaints when their car collided head-on with the minibus near Sannaspos. The state vehicle he was travelling in was heading toward the east. The accident reportedly occurred at about 02:45.
Covane said it is alleged that the driver of a Toyota Quantum, driving recklessly, approached the convoy driving from Botshabelo towards Bloemfontein. He said the Quantum allegedly left its lane and hit the right rear-view mirror of the first police vehicle. Covane said the driver of the second police vehicle managed to swerve to avoid the oncoming Toyota Quantum, which then collided head-on with the third police vehicle Semenyane was in.
According to the police, Semenyane was driving the police vehicle involved in the fatal accident. The patrol vehicles that were dispatched to attend to community complaints were from police stations in Kopanong, Bloemspruit, and Heidedal. Covane confirmed the police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.
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