State must pay R26.6m after pothole crash leaves motorist a paraplegic

A POTHOLE in the North West province will cost the MEC of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport more than R26.6 million after a motorist was involved in an accident when she drove through the pothole, which left her a paraplegic.

- ZELDA VENTER

The North West High Court, sitting in Mahikeng, ordered the department about three months ago to pay this amount to the plaintiff, only identified as Beauty. However, the department has to date not yet paid up.

Her attorney, Righardt Bezuidenhout, said the department promised that it would pay by Wednesday. However, by the time of publication, she had not yet been paid.

When the department failed to pay her prior to now, Bezuidenhout had obtained an order to attach the assets of the provincial department, to sell at auction in a bid to receive payment. The department, in the meantime, promised to make the payment in a bid to avoid its assets being sold at a public auction.