A Delft family is mourning the death of 14-year-old Craig Present after a minibus taxi allegedly travelling at high speed struck him while he was riding his bicycle in Leiden.
The collision happened on Mfuli Road on Friday afternoon, 6 November 2026.
Craig was riding along the residential road when he was hit by a Toyota Quantum, according to Western Cape police.
He was placed in a private vehicle and taken to hospital, but later died from his injuries.
Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel FC van Wyk confirmed that the driver and the vehicle were taken to a police station for investigation.
“The driver and vehicle were taken to the police station for investigation,” Van Wyk said.
Delft police have opened a culpable-homicide case. No arrests have been made.
The investigation will determine how the crash happened, the speed of the taxi, whether any traffic laws were broken and whether further charges should follow.
Craig was riding with a close friend
Craig was with the granddaughter of Delft Community Policing Forum deputy chairperson Reggi Hills when the collision occurred.
Hills said the two children were close friends and attended Kairos Primary School in Leiden.
According to the girl’s account, Craig had asked her whether she wanted a turn to ride the bicycle.
“As soon as he got off and she got on, a speeding taxi came driving down the street and knocked Craig to the ground,” Hills said.
Hills said the driver appeared to be in a state of shock after the collision. The driver got out of the vehicle, placed Craig inside and took him to hospital.
Craig later died.
“My grandchild and Craig were very, very close friends. We live next door to them, and they [the family] are in such a state of shock because no one expected or foresaw Craig being taken away so suddenly,” Hills said.
The children spent much of their time together and regularly rode their bicycles in the neighbourhood.
Hills said Craig was known as a helpful and respectful child who looked out for his friend when they were outside.
“It is such a very sad incident that occurred to the family. No one deserves this. Craig was such a wonderful, helpful young child who always treated my grandchild with respect and made sure she was home safely whenever they were out riding their bicycles together,” he said.
Craig’s parents were at the mortuary viewing their son’s body and were not ready to speak publicly about the tragedy.
A memorial table was set up at the entrance of the school Craig attended in his memory.
Community raises taxi-speed concerns
The fatal collision has intensified concerns about the way minibus taxis are driven through residential streets in Delft and surrounding communities.
Hills said residents regularly see taxis travelling at speeds that put pedestrians, cyclists and children at risk.
He called for greater law-enforcement visibility in Leiden and said the death should not be dismissed as an unavoidable accident.
“It is insane the way they drive down here, with no regard for human life. Something must be done about it. We need law enforcement agencies to always be visible because we cannot allow our children to be killed like this by taxi drivers who think nothing of speeding through residential areas,” Hills said.
The concern is not limited to drivers. Residential streets are used by children walking to school, playing outside and riding bicycles. A speeding vehicle leaves very little time for a child or driver to react when someone enters the road.
The investigation will establish whether the taxi was travelling above the speed limit and whether the driver was keeping a proper lookout.
Police have not announced the driver’s identity or said whether the Toyota Quantum was operating on a formal route at the time of the crash.
They have also not disclosed whether the vehicle was impounded for mechanical inspection or whether witnesses were interviewed at the scene.
What a culpable-homicide case means
A culpable-homicide investigation is opened when police suspect that a person’s negligent or unlawful conduct may have caused someone’s death.
Opening the case does not mean that the driver has been found guilty or that a prosecution will definitely follow.
Investigators must first gather evidence, including witness statements, medical records, photographs, vehicle-inspection results and any available video footage.
They may also examine road conditions, visibility, the position of the bicycle and taxi, tyre marks and the condition of traffic signs in the area.
The driver’s actions before and after the collision will also form part of the investigation.
Taking Craig to hospital after the crash does not decide whether the driver was responsible for the collision. That question will be determined by the evidence gathered by police and any later court proceedings.
No arrest has been made, and no finding of criminal liability has been announced.
Another warning about vulnerable road users
Craig’s death comes as Cape Town communities continue to raise concerns about children and other vulnerable road users being injured or killed in traffic collisions.
Cyclists are particularly exposed because they share space with heavier and faster vehicles while having little physical protection in a crash.
Children may also misjudge the speed or distance of an approaching vehicle, especially on streets where cars and taxis frequently pass homes, schools and play areas.
The latest incident has left residents calling for visible enforcement rather than occasional operations after a fatal collision has already occurred.
Possible measures could include speed monitoring, patrols near schools, safer road crossings and action against drivers who disregard traffic rules. Any such interventions would need to be assessed and implemented by the relevant traffic and law-enforcement authorities.
Residents have also been urged to report dangerous driving and to provide investigators with information about serious collisions.
Witnesses can help police establish what happened before a crash and whether similar complaints had previously been made about a particular vehicle or route.
Investigation continues
Delft police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Craig’s death.
The driver and Toyota Quantum were taken to the police station, but police have not confirmed whether the driver has been charged or arrested.
The case remains one of culpable homicide while detectives work to establish the facts.
For Craig’s family and friends, the legal process follows an unbearable loss. A child who had been riding with a close friend was taken to hospital after a collision and did not return home.
Hills said the community was struggling to accept how quickly the teenager’s life had been cut short.
Craig’s family is now preparing to bury a 14-year-old remembered by those who knew him as helpful, respectful and protective of his friends.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have not announced any arrests.