Cape Town – The promising life of Ncumisa Mdlokolo, a young doctor from the Eastern Cape, was tragically cut short on 1 February after she was struck by a Ferrari driven by an allegedly intoxicated driver in Cape Town. The devastating incident occurred just as Ncumisa was reaping the rewards of her hard work, having recently paid off her tuition fees and opened two medical practices. She had also planned to support her mother, an educator, who was due to retire this year.
The heart-wrenching details were relayed to this publication by Anelisa Mdlokolo, Ncumisa's younger sister, who witnessed the horrific event. During a somber telephonic interview on 9 February, Anelisa's grief was palpable, with sounds of uncontrollable crying audible in the background.
Anelisa recounted being with her sister in her final moments, witnessing her last breath. She described the grieving process as a "roller coaster," with moments of coping interspersed with overwhelming despair.
"I wish I could get into a time machine and go back in time. I also carry a lot of guilt in my heart, I wish it was me. It is traumatic, but I am coping. I am on a prescription drug for the time being just to help with the anxiety and the shock," Anelisa shared.
Recalling their last day together, Anelisa said she and Ncumisa took an evening flight from Durban to Cape Town on 31 January, intending to spend a relaxing weekend together. After arriving at their accommodation, they freshened up and went out for dinner. Afterwards, they decided to explore the city. Tragedy struck in the early hours of Saturday, 1 February, as they were leaving their second location after spending a couple of hours there.
Anelisa remembered her sister being happy in those moments, as they talked about their two younger sisters. She described Ncumisa as a "pure and kind soul," emphasising the profound loss not only for her family but also for her community, employees, and patients.
“As we were walking, I hear a sound, because this guy was coming from behind. I heard a sound of a German car, almost like it was roaring. As we turned around, I saw the driver almost losing control. I saw him battling with the starring wheel. It was a red Ferrari, and the driver was losing control of the car swerving between the right and the left lane,” Anelisa recounted.
She continued, “And then he hit the security that patrols on the streets. Once I looked at his [security guard's] face, it looked decapitated, like the Ferrari had hit him and jumped on top of him, like he was cut from the waist down. When I looked at him, it was like I could throw up, my stomach turned.”
Anelisa, who worked as an administrator at one of her sister's practices, said she initially didn't realise the severity of the situation, thinking the car had only broken Ncumisa's arm or leg. However, upon closer inspection, she realised the devastating truth.
"When I looked at my sister, I knew she was gone because of the head injury. I could see the brain, it was outside. I peed on myself because I was shaking, I could not believe it. Then he [the driver] tried to flee the scene, fortunately [other security guards, who had witnessed the incident] held him and asked him ‘how can you flee the scene when you killed someone? You need to answer to the police’. It was like my soul left my body because I knew she was gone."
Anelisa recalled passing out in disbelief as paramedics arrived and declared Ncumisa dead. She suspects that the driver, identified as David Polet, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the incident and was unfit to drive.
Polet was arrested on the same Saturday and was granted R10,000 bail the following day. Anelisa expressed her disappointment with the justice system, stating that it had failed her family and the injured security guard. She vowed to fight for her sister's killer to be held accountable.
Anelisa said that when the 36-year-old appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court on Monday, 3 February, one of his family members allegedly offered the Mdlokolo family R50,000 to "help them" and offered to pay for the funeral, an offer that infuriated Anelisa.
Polet faces charges of culpable homicide and driving under the influence. National Prosecuting Authority’s Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that his case has been postponed to 7 May for further investigation.
Ncumisa's family spent the past two days in Durban, where she worked, packing up her belongings. A memorial service was held in Montclair on Tuesday. Another memorial service will be held in her hometown of Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, and Ncumisa will be laid to rest on Saturday.
