Soccer star’s suspected special treatment following deadly crash concerns grieving mother

Warning: The following footage may upset sensitive viewers.

The mother of a nine-year-old girl killed in a serious collision allegedly caused by a professional soccer player has turned to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit because she fears the accused is getting preferential treatment. Keo Mavimbela’s daughter Gomolemo was killed on Andrew Mapheto Road in Tembisa on 30 October, 2024, when Shaune Mogaila’s car collided with hers. Thando Khethiwa, the son of Mavimbela’s friend, was critically injured as well. The Sekhukhune United winger allegedly fled the scene and handed himself over to the police later that day. He was granted bail of R20 000. The unit also represents Thando’s mother, Carol Khethiwa.

The Ekurhuleni Metro Police reported that broken liquor bottles and a white substance they suspect was cocaine were found inside the BMW M2. But nine-months-later, and despite dashcam video evidence of the crash, the matter keeps being postponed for further investigations.

Mavimbela says all she wants is justice. “I approached AfriForum because I feel like there’s no progress in this case. I feel like there’s a lot of runaround. And the only thing that I want is justice from this case. But the way things are going, it doesn’t give any hope because the case has been postponed without trial. It’s always investigations, investigations based on the same reason, which is the blood results. I hope that AfriForum could help me reach the justice for my daughter, myself and Thando,” she said.

In correspondence to the Rabie Ridge police station commander, Adv. Gerrie Nel, head of the unit, asks for an update of the case. “In our experience of other matters, it has become more and more evident that the SAPS either lacks the skills to investigate culpable homicide cases or considers them to be of lesser importance. Consequently, little is done to mitigate delays in the blood alcohol results, which have allowed cases to drag on until they are eventually struck off the roll.

“The trauma caused by this lingering case remains unhealthy for the victims, and our instructions are to not only obtain a status update but also to ensure that justice is served. To that end, we offer both our assistance and that of our client to ensure that the matter is postponed for trial and concluded without further undue delay,” said Nel.

Barry Bateman, the unit’s spokesperson, says Keo and her family not only bear the emotional burden of this incident, but also the physical and financial burden. “While Keo walks with a severe limp after undergoing numerous surgeries to heal her body, which was crushed in the wreck that killed her daughter, the football player behind the wheel of the other car runs onto the pitch. We share Keo’s concern that Mogaila may be given preferential treatment because of his status as a soccer player. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit was established to ensure that everyone is treated equally before the law, regardless of political or social status.

“We frequently hear from authorities which claim to have a zero-tolerance policy towards speeding and drunk driving. However, this zeal disappears when someone who is allegedly intoxicated and speeding causes a crash that kills people. Our experience shows that if a case is enrolled, it takes years to investigate, and there are never-ending delays for scene reconstruction or blood test results. Some cases are eventually struck off the roll because of a failure to finalise investigations. We will not allow that to happen in this case and will ensure there is justice for Keo and her family,” said Bateman.

The matter returns to the Tembisa Magistrates Court on 16 September, 2025.