ADAMS MISSION, KwaZulu-Natal — Authorities have launched a formal investigation into an eThekwini water tanker fatality after a man was allegedly run over by a municipal vehicle in Adams Mission, south of Durban. The tragic incident, which occurred earlier in the day, has prompted a swift response from local law enforcement as they work to piece together the exact events that led to the man’s death.
The KwaZulu-Natal police have officially opened a docket of culpable homicide. According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, investigators have already met with the driver of the municipal truck to record a formal statement. While disturbing and gruesome video footage of the incident has begun circulating online, law enforcement is urging the public to wait for verified facts to emerge.
“We don’t want to take what we see on the video at face value,” Colonel Netshiunda explained, emphasizing the need for a thorough and unbiased investigation. “We have got to test the evidence to uncover the truth behind the individuals involved. Those who were around could tell us what led to that incident because what we are seeing is just a clip. We don’t know where it started, how it started, or who was behind it.”
Currently, the driver is cooperating with authorities and has not been arrested. Colonel Netshiunda clarified that in cases of culpable homicide, an immediate arrest is not standard procedure unless intentional harm or severe negligence can be immediately proven. Police are actively gathering statements from eyewitnesses to establish a complete, accurate timeline of the event.
However, the legal classification of the case remains fluid. Colonel Netshiunda noted that if the investigation uncovers elements of gross negligence or a deliberate intention to kill, the charges could be escalated from culpable homicide to murder.
“If it comes to an arrest, we will do so without fear or favor,” he stated, confirming that further statements may be taken from the driver as the probe deepens. “We don’t want to preempt anything, but if we find that there were elements of negligence or an intention to kill, then the case might change.”
The eThekwini municipality has acknowledged the incident, stating that internal processes are currently underway. While the municipality has refrained from commenting extensively while the probe is active, police confirmed that the driver is fully cooperating. Colonel Netshiunda stressed that investigators view the driver strictly as a person of interest in the incident, regardless of his status as a municipal employee, ensuring the investigation remains focused solely on the facts of the tragedy.