DELFT MENSE TURN ON COPS

DELFT South erupted after a meisie tragically lost her life on Saturday evening after a police van drove into a wendy house next to where she and two other girls were playing.

The community turned on the cops, who fled for their lives, before angry residents torched the police van in Wingnut Street.

Namhla Nondala, 11, was taken to Tygerberg mortuary following Saturday’s incident, which is now being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). 

Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping reported that it is alleged that when the incident occurred around 6.30pm that three cops from Delft SAPS were driving a marked police vehicle on route to attend to a complaint.

Shuping explained: “When the members were driving down Sandlehout street, a taxi allegedly came in the opposite direction, towards the police vehicle. 

“The driver of the police vehicle 

allegedly swerved out of the way of the taxi and drove into a wendy house in the same street, and into three children who were playing next to the wendy house.”

Two meisies aged 10 were both transported to a nearby hospital, however, Namhla died on the scene.

Shuping added: “The community allegedly attacked the police members and set alight the police bakkie. 

“Ipid took control of the crime scene after the situation was normalised and the community calmed down.”

Ipid is investigating a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving.

The Alliance of Citizens for Change party marched to the police station the following day and president Masizole Mnqasela visited the family before the march.

Mnqasela told the Daily Voice that Nondala’s family is distraught.

He said: “They will never hold her again, they will never hug her again, they will never tell her how much they love her again.

“She is gone for good and you could see the pain in their eyes -– it was registered in their body language and the way they spoke.”

Mnqasela comforted the family, reminding them to remember Nondala for who she was and not the gruesome scene of her dead body lying under the wreckage of the wendy house.

Mnqasela said that one of the two other meisies has been discharged after suffering from a broken limb, while the other is still on life support. 

Mnqasela condemned the retaliation by the community, but added that they plan on taking legal action against the State on behalf of the three girls’ families.

Western Cape Provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has extended her sincerest condolences to the family in this difficult time.

Marais said: “I note with regret an accident involving a police vehicle which led to the death of an 11 year old child and injuring two others in Delft on Saturday 4 October 2025.

“I urge communities not to take the law into their own hands or destroy vital state resources in moments of frustration, as such actions undermine policing efforts in areas already struggling with high levels of violent crime.”

Mnqasela also appealed to members of the community and those who can assist with donations for the family who lost their home, to take it to Delft SAPS station and hand it to the station  commander Brigadier Sihlali.