Police van torched after crash that killed Delft girl, 11, and injured friends

DELFT South erupted after an 11-year-old girl 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.

Residents turned on the cops, who fled for their lives, before their vehicle was torched in Wingnut Street.

The incident is under Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) investigation.

Ipid spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said it is alleged that the incident occurred around 6:30pm when three cops from Delft SAPS were driving a marked police vehicle on route to attend to a complaint of murder in progress.

Shuping said: “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 girls 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 Namhla's family is distraught.

“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 and you could see the pain in their eyes,” he said.

Mnqasela said one of the two other girls has been discharged from hospital 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.

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais extended her condolences to the family.

“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, October 4, 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,” Marais said.

Mnqasela appealed to anyone who can assist the family who lost their home, to bring donations to the Delft police station and hand it to the station commander Brigadier Sihlali.

Cape Times