KNYSNA NEWS - The DA’s political head in Knysna, DA MP Dion George, has categorically denied allegations made on Facebook that the DA candidate for the by-election in ward 5 in Rheenendal, Hilton Stroebel, was involved in a hit and run accident in the area on Monday 19 August.
George acknowledges that a minor incident occurred when a boy ran into Stroebel’s car at about 18:00 on Monday following a motorcade campaign in Rheenendal, but says the incident is being blown out of all proportion and false rumours are being spread.
“Hilton was driving in the area when he stopped his vehicle as a group of boys were playing soccer in the street. After he brought his car to a complete stop, a boy ran into his car. The boy did not fall down and immediately ran off, seemingly uninjured.”
George says Stroebel, who is a pastor in Rheendal, then drove off, but later received a call from the PBI’s ward 5 election candidate, Alberto Marbi, about the incident. “Hilton immediately went to see the mother, whom he knows, and she showed him a scratch on the boy’s leg. He then took the boy to the Knysna Hospital where a doctor gave him an injection for pain. The boy is perfectly fine and allegations that he was knocked over by Hilton’s car is devoid of all truth.”
Stroebel has confirmed the chain of events providing more detail.
“I saw one of the boys being chased by a dog running towards my car. The boy was looking over his shoulder at the dog, but luckily I saw him and had come to a complete stop when he ran into my car. I got out of my car, but the boy immediately ran off. His friends assured me he was OK.”
Stroebel again visited the family this morning and although the boy told him that he was fine and had slept well, Stroebel took him for X-rays as a safety precaution.
He says he will visit the boy later today to find out the X-ray results. “This whole story was fabricated for political gain.”
The Ward 5 by-election is taking place tomorrow, Wednesday 21 August.
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