KNYSNA NEWS - Two teenage boys, Jenovin (Kosie) van Wyk and Levandre (Baba) Jantjies, were tragically killed in a hit and run incident along the N2 in Nekkies last weekend. They were part of a larger group of seven friends.
The other five were also injured in the incident.
Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies said that the tragedy occurred shortly after midnight, at 00:30 on Sunday 29 October.
"It is alleged that seven pedestrians were hit by a vehicle along the highway. Police were dispatched to the scene where the victims were found with multiple injuries. Two victims, both 15 years old, were declared deceased by paramedics and the five others taken to hospital," he explained.
"They have all been discharged in the meantime. The vehicle involved left the scene and was traced at a house in Nekkies where a 44-year-old man was taken into custody. Knysna detectives are investigating a case of culpable homicide."
Police were able to track down the driver thanks to the swift action of one of the children at the scene, according to social media posts by Jenovin's aunt, Laurika Quine. In her posts she stated that one of the children grabbed a licence plate off the car before the driver could speed away.
The man arrested was Luvuyo Koti, who made his first appearance in the Knysna Magistrate's Court on Monday 30 October. It was then postponed until yesterday, Wednesday 1 November, and he was remanded in custody.
The outcome of yesterday's court appearance was not available at the time of going to print.
A petition was also set up to oppose bail for Koti, with Hornlee-based organisation Changes of Knysna leading the way for the families with the petition. "It's extremely sad that we have to lose lives to reckless drivers," the organisation's Lynn Kayster said in a statement to KPH.
"The punishment for reckless drivers should be severe, in order to make a statement to other drivers on the road. How do you knock down seven people, of which two children lose their lives? That is reckless at its worst. To then drive away from the scene, is just sad.
"These kids were still so young, and they had their whole lives ahead of them."
Quine expressed her and the two families' deep sorrow at the loss of their two young boys. "The boys were good friends, and were so loved by all of us and those who knew them. Kosie and Baba, you will be missed so much." The families intend to hold a joint funeral for the two boys next Saturday, 10 November.
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