Patrick Jewell and his daughter Jacky supplied
A teenager who took his father's SUV on a joyride without a license three years ago was sentenced in the Brits Magistrates Court in North West on Wednesday to three years of house arrest after his actions led to the death of 65-year-old Patrick Jewell.
Kgaugelo Masenya who was 16 at the time of the accident is the son of a police Captain attached to the VIP Unit.
Earlier this year he accepted full responsibility for his actions and was on Wednesday sentenced to an additional 176 hours a month of community service at the Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
The victim's daughter Jacky approached Afriforum's Private Prosecution Unit (PPU) arguing that the police did not investigate the case to protect the Police Captain.
She said she felt failed by the justice system and was shocked and disappointed at the lenient sentence Masenya was given.
She did, however, thank Afriforum for taking on the case and helping her and her family to start the healing process.
Magistrate Elna Moolman says while she considered the crime very serious, she was mindful that Masenya was 16 years old at the time.
Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, says delays in finalising cases prolong the trauma experienced by victims and loved ones.
