A Western Cape traffic official from Worcester died on the N1 after being struck by a bakkie.
|||Cape Town - A Western Cape traffic official from Worcester died on the N1 on Tuesday after being struck by a bakkie.
Provincial traffic inspector Phumzile Banisi, 43, was called out to assist a driver in distress on the highway between Worcester and Paarl.
Banisi was directing traffic at the site when he was struck by a white Toyota Hilux which, according to police, overtook several vehicles before hitting the inspector from behind. Banisi died on impact.
“The 57-year-old driver of the Hilux, who resides in Somerset West, was arrested.
“A case of culpable homicide was opened for investigation.
“The suspect will appear in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court once he is charged,” said police spokesman Captain Andre Venter.
Inspector Cecil Nyman, from the provincial traffic office in Worcester said that Banisi was a “wonderful person”.
“He was a colleague, husband, brother and a friend to many people. “To us he was more than just a colleague; he was also a hero.
“We always admired him and had a great deal of respect for him.” Banisi is survived by his wife and five children.
daneel.knoetze@inl.co.za
Cape Argus