In the early hours of Friday, August 16, 2024, 26-year-old Phumla Mtshali tragically lost her life in a hit-and-run accident on Phoenix Highway, Phoenix – KwaZulu-Natal.
The incident involved a black Toyota Fortuner, which struck Mtshali and sped off without providing any assistance. Despite the critical injuries sustained by Mtshali, the driver did not stop.
The investigation into the incident faced an initial hurdle when a registration plate, which was recovered at the scene, was removed by an unknown person just minutes later. This hindered the identification process.
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However, hours after the incident, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a tip-off from a farmer about a suspicious vehicle on his property located in Canelands.
Upon arrival at the site, RUSA officers found an accident-damaged black Toyota Fortuner with missing registration plates. The vehicle was fitted with blue emergency lights, raising further suspicion.
A vehicle ownership check using the details from the license disk confirmed that the vehicle belonged to the South African Police Service (SAPS). Further complicating the case, it had been reported stolen at the Phoenix SAPS on the same day of the incident.
On the morning of Monday, August 19, 2024, the policeman linked to the accident and subsequent hit-and-run committed suicide at a hotel in Umhlanga Rocks.
