3GAR's McLaren crash: Why is the investigation taking so long?

Police have yet to charge anyone in connection with a high-speed crash involving a McLaren supercar in Sea Point.

The March 1 incident, which occurred on High Level Road, saw a McLaren 570S slam into a wall after allegedly reaching speeds of up to 200km/h. The driver, identified as Nigerian rapper Prince Daniel Obioma - known by his stage name 3GAR - was hospitalised following the crash.

Video footage of the incident elicited a public outcry.

While a case of reckless and negligent driving is under investigation, Western Cape police confirmed that no arrests have been made.

“A reckless and negligent driving case is being investigated, as in this case where the driver was taken to hospital by ambulance for medical treatment due to his injuries at the time,” said police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk.

“The case docket was referred to the DPP for decision. Nobody has been charged yet.”

The delay has drawn criticism from political figures and members of the public, who argue that the matter should have been swiftly dealt with, given the availability of CCTV footage showing the vehicle travelling at high speed prior to the crash.

Nicholas Gotsell of the DA’s Select Committee for Security and Justice said the lack of progress reflects poorly on police.

“It has been two months since a McLaren supercar, driven recklessly through Sea Point by a well-known rapper, crashed into a wall. Yet, SAPS has still not laid any charges or made any arrests,” Gotsell said.

“Despite clear CCTV footage and mounting public frustration, the investigation remains stalled, and the silence from SAPS is deafening.”

Gotsell said he had written twice to Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile requesting clarity on the case’s progress.

“The response was non-committal and basically says that he cannot offer a timeline on when it will be completed.”

Gotsell linked this lack of urgency to a broader pattern of sluggish responses to road deaths and reckless driving in Cape Town.

He was speaking after attending proceedings in an unrelated case at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court - the 1 February crash in Bree Street that claimed the life of a young dentist. That case has also faced repeated delays and was recently postponed again until September 26.

“While it is ultimately up to the court to decide, justice in cases like these must be done and be seen to be done. Too many still treat Cape Town’s roads as their personal race tracks — the public deserves transparency.”

He said he would escalate the matter by writing to Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, urging that SAPS be summoned to explain why a high-profile case with “obvious evidence” had not moved forward.

Sea Point ward councillor Nicola Jowell echoed the call for swift enforcement.

“If there is no consequence or action, then it makes enforcement and tackling the issues such as speeding and noisy vehicles even more of an uphill battle,” she said.

Cape Times