Somerset West detective Sergeant Berchill Allies was lauded for securing convictions for drunken driving, culpable homicide and copper-cable theft in two separate 2021 cases.
He received a commendation for his dedicated work in bringing to book a drunken driver involved in a hit-and-run accident in Somerset West on Saturday 1 May 2021 (“Driver arrested for ‘hit-and-run’,” DistrictMail, 6 May 2021).
The accused, Jonathan Kotze (35), was found guilty of drunken driving and culpable homicide in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Friday 28 March after the fatal incident, which occurred at the intersection on the corner of Victoria Street and the N2 at 23:25. DistrictMail reported that two pedestrians were knocked down in the accident, claiming the life of 21-year-old Chandré Visser from Strand and leaving her friend, walking with her, hospitalised with slight injuries.
Kotze’s metallic Toyota Fortuner apparently failed to stop at the scene and sped off. However, a vigilant motorist and witness gave chase, assisted by a traffic officer, who aided the arrest.
Eyewitness Bjorn Henri, who was driving a silver BMW with his wife, saw the collision as they were travelling from Gordon’s Bay and had stopped at a red traffic light at the N2/Victoria Street intersection. As the light turned green he observed the Fortuner speeding past and striking Visser, who was flung about 80 m from the point of impact. He immediately gave chase and managed to alert traffic officer Karl Bailey, who was on patrol, by flagging him down and urging him to pursue the vehicle because the driver had just run down two pedestrians.
Bailey gave chase and successfully forced the vehicle to a halt just outside Macassar. The traffic officer, who on inspection saw the damage to the vehicle and on enquiry suspected the driver was under the influence of alcohol, escorted the suspect to the Somerset West Police Station where all the dots were connected and the then 31-year-old was arrested.
Allies’ investigation led to Kotze’s conviction. He received an eight-year sentence wholly suspended for five years for culpable homicide, conditional on not reoffending during the suspension period, and three years’ correctional supervision, which includes 570 hours community service as well as other strict conditions.
He was also issued a R10 000 fine or six months’ imprisonment for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Following the conviction, Bailey, who now pursues his passion as a lecturer at the traffic college in Brackenfell, said he was simply grateful for carrying out his call of duty as a traffic officer at the time of the incident.
He declined to comment on the sentence, recalling the day he testified in court. As he walked out of the courtroom he said he witnessed the mother of the deceased approaching the accused, where he was seated with family, to tell him nothing will bring her daughter back but she forgave him.
Visser’s father, Benjamin February, expressed his satisfaction with the court process and outcome. The deeply religious family relied implicitly on their faith and hoped for justice to prevail.
“We have peace in our hearts. He was indeed driving under the influence, but it was an accident. My daughter’s future was tragically cut short, but the accused is still in the prime of his life with a bright future beckoning him. He showed remorse and we wish him all the best. We are hurting, but nothing will bring our beloved back.”
Allies also secured a 15-year prison sentence for Leonard Makuvaza, a 29-year-old Zimbabwean national convicted of copper-cable theft in the Somerset West Regional Court on Monday 30 June.
Makuvaza and three accomplices stole copper cables in Panorama Drive, Somerset West in 2021. They were arrested on 26 April that year. Makuvaza was declared unfit to possess a firearm during the trial and the truck used in the crime was forfeited.
One accomplice died in prison while awaiting trial, while two others received bail and failed to return to court and remain at large.
Station commander Colonel Jacolize Fleischmann commended Allies on the outstanding investigations and convictions.
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