A De Doorns family is mourning the death of 14-year-old Fredrico Konstabel, who was fatally injured after falling beneath the back wheel of a truck outside Hexvallei Secondary School.
The incident happened on Thursday shortly after 7pm, as matriculants arrived at the school in Glenco Way for their ball. Fredrico, a Grade 9 learner at the school, had gone to watch the matriculants arrive with friends.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation. Police have opened a culpable-homicide case and no arrests had been made at the latest update.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the investigation was continuing.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, and no arrests have been made. There are no new developments to report at this stage,” said Twigg.
According to information provided to the family and the area’s ward councillor, the truck had arrived to drop off a matriculant attending the event. The driver was allegedly reversing out of the school entrance when Fredrico fell beneath the vehicle.
The truck driver was reportedly inconsolable after residents tried to stop the vehicle by banging on it. It was alleged that he had warned children numerous times not to play near the truck while it was being moved.
The full sequence of events, including whether the children climbed onto the truck and how Fredrico fell, will form part of the police investigation.
Family receives frantic phone call
Fredrico’s mother, Cherla Konstabel, 47, said her son had returned home from school before going to a local corner shop for her.
He later told her that he and his “chommies” were going to the school to watch the matriculants arrive for the ball.
“I told him not to come home too late and that he must be safe,” said Konstabel.
It was the last time she would see her youngest son alive.
The family received a frantic phone call shortly after 7pm telling them to go to the school because “Rico”, as Fredrico was affectionately known, had been knocked down by a truck.
The distance between the family home and the school is approximately a 10-minute walk. When Konstabel arrived, police and paramedics were already at the scene.
She said her son’s eyes were closed when she saw him on the ground. She knelt beside him, sobbing, while the immediate family was allowed to remain with him until the forensic team arrived.
After his body was removed, the family made the walk home in silence and shock.
Konstabel said people at the scene told police what they had seen. She said she did not blame anyone for her son’s death.
The people said Rico and his friends got onto the truck because it was an open truck with no load on, only the big front. When the truck moved out of the school, my child lost his balance and fell and ended up under the back wheel.
She said she did not have the courage to ask further questions because “it doesn’t matter anymore because he is never coming back”.
Councillor urges caution
DA ward councillor Felicity Vaughan said it was not unusual for children in the area to become excited when large or impressive vehicles arrived in the farming community.
She said the driver had reportedly cautioned children not to play around the truck and to clear the road when it started moving.
“I was informed that the driver initially cautioned the children not to play around the truck, and to clear the street when the vehicle started moving. It is very unfortunate what took place here,” said Vaughan.
Vaughan said the complete circumstances had not yet been established and urged people not to speculate while the investigation continued.
She was also advised that the truck had been reversing very slowly because excited children were nearby and surrounding the vehicle.
“I am yet to visit the family later today [Monday] to offer condolences and hear if they need any assistance. This is such an unfortunate, sad incident, and the community is mourning with the family,” said Vaughan.
School pays tribute
Hexvallei Secondary School said it was filled with deep sorrow after learning of Fredrico’s death.
“Words fall short in describing the sorrow of this unimaginable loss. The passing of a young life leaves a void that will not easily be filled. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time are with Frederico’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
“May you find strength when the grief feels overwhelming, comfort in cherished memories, and peace amidst the pain. May you know that you do not have to go through this difficult time alone,” said the school in its Facebook post.
The school’s tribute referred to the boy as Frederico, while his family and other information identify him as Fredrico. His death has affected learners, teachers, the family and residents who gathered outside the school that evening.
Trucking organisation responds
The All Truck Drivers’ Organisation said it was shocked by the incident. Its secretary-general, Gugu Sokhela, said there were no rules or regulations preventing truck drivers from escorting matric pupils to their balls or other events, provided the activity was lawful.
Sokhela said the decision to use a truck for such occasions rested with individual drivers.
“For us as an organisation, we use trucks as our feeding spoon; we use and drive trucks to earn a living. It’s difficult for us to have a ruling on a certain matter like a matric ball, but as long as everything is done within the boundaries of the law, the organisation does not have a problem with truck drivers earning an extra income outside their jobs,” said Sokhela.
The organisation’s comments do not determine whether any law was broken in the De Doorns incident. That will be decided through the police investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
For now, the community is grieving the loss of a 14-year-old learner who went to watch the excitement of matriculants arriving at their school ball and never returned home. Police continue to investigate the culpable-homicide case and have not announced any arrests.