‘There is no justice in South Africa, the corruption runs deep’ – Hit-and-run victim

CapeTalk’s Lester Kiewit speaks with Neil Robinson, CEO of The Pedal Power Association (PPA).

Listen below:

In December 2023, 27-year-old Navy employee Garth Pasha crashed into triathlete Dewald van der Westhuizen, and failed to stop at the scene.

Van der Westhuizen reportedly went through five surgeries, immense pain, and almost lost his leg after the accident.

Last week, the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court handed down its ruling in the hit-and-run case, and the cycling community is outraged.

Pasha was given a R13,000 fine, suspended jail time, and had his driver and firearm licences reinstated.

The cycling community argues that the punishment does not fit the crime.

Van der Westhuizen declined to join Lester for the interview, saying that justice in this country is a myth and he just wants to move on.

He is even considering a move to the US, as he is completely disheartened by the state of the country.

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“We made as much noise as we could, went as high up as we could, and still — this was the result. There is no justice in South Africa... the corruption runs deep — even down to Simon’s Town.”  

- Dewald van der Westhuizen, hit-and-run victim

Robinson says the PPA is disturbed and disgusted by this ruling, and feels it completely ignores the laws in place to protect people on the road.

“South Africa is a lawless society.”

- Neil Robinson, CEO of The Pedal Power Association 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.