12‑Year‑Old Charged as Brakpan Tragedy Claims 14‑Year‑Old’s Life
By Mpho Moloi
A 12‑year‑old boy has been handed over to the Brakpan SAPS following a fatal crash that claimed the life of a 14‑year‑old pedestrian on Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Northdene and Medeley streets in Brakpan. Witnesses and authorities say the under‑age driver—accompanied by a guardian—failed to stop at a stop sign before colliding with the teenager, whose death was pronounced at the scene by paramedics shortly after 13:45 ﹣ a heartbreaking end to what should’ve been a quiet weekend ﹣ and something no family should endure .
Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department officials responded swiftly. By the time they arrived, the Mazda sedan was overturned beside a neighbour’s wall. First‑aid was rendered by bystanders, including teenager Antonio Posthumus, who attempted CPR on his friend Malcolm Booysens for three minutes before paramedics confirmed his passing . Officials allege the child driver disobeyed the stop sign, resulting in the tragic collision and overturning the vehicle .
City spokesperson Zweli Dlamini issued a solemn reminder to parents: “Let’s make sure that we keep car keys safe, let’s make sure that we do not give access to our cars to children below the age of the driving age. And also, people who do not have the necessary documents to drive a vehicle” . South Africa’s legal driving age is 18, and the presence of a child at the wheel is both illegal and deeply concerning .
The 12‑year‑old was delivered into the custody of Brakpan SAPS alongside his guardian and is expected to appear in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court in the coming days . Metro police have launched an investigation to determine how the child accessed the vehicle.
The Brakpan community is in deep mourning. Malcolm, who had just turned 14, was a homeschooled Grade 6 pupil known for his dream of becoming a pastor. His death has rocked neighbours, classmates, and community leaders alike . Antonio Posthumus, present at the time, shared:
“My father and I were in our garage fixing something when we heard a loud bang … I saw someone lying on the pavement … I started mouth‑to‑mouth … he had no pulse.” 
Malcolm’s father, Quinton Booysens, expressed unimaginable sorrow: “Parents are not supposed to bury their children,” he said, recalling how his son had asked to skate ahead on their way home – a simple request that ended in a nightmare .
Tragically, this accident reflects a worrying trend in the area. EMS Chaplain Trauma Support’s Melinda Jan Van Renburg reported that this is the fourth vehicle‑pedestrian crash involving children in the past two weeks alone ﹣ including one at Carnival Mall and another in Springs .
Transport authorities, such as Collen Msibi, note a legal grey area regarding parental liability when children access vehicles without permission, calling for clearer regulations to prevent similar tragedies .
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