Hertta-Maria Amutenja
A forensic report into the fatal accident that led to the death of Romario Tony Pienaar, which involved a Sea Pride Foods truck, has revealed issues with the heavy vehicle’s braking system.
The incident, which occurred on 14 November 2024 at the intersection of Robert Mugabe Avenue and Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Street in Windhoek, resulted in the death of the motorcyclist.
According to the report, the truck’s service braking system was found to be inefficient, requiring multiple pumps on the brake pedal to stop the moving vehicle.
The investigation also found that previous maintenance checks had overlooked the worn-out left rear brake shoe.
When the worn brake shoe was replaced, the truck’s braking system functioned properly.
The report, compiled by a forensic investigator from the Namibian Police Forensic Science Institute (NPFSI), Kalipus Sem, suggests that the worn brake shoe likely contributed to the failure of the braking system, which led to the collision.
The emergency braking system, however, was reported to be functioning normally.
Furthermore, the family of the deceased, who has requested assistance with funeral costs, has not received any support from the company despite multiple enquiries.
The mother of the deceased, Suzette Ginarte, who has been trying to reach Seapride Foods for support, spoke to the Observer about her frustration.
“I’ve been trying to contact the office for weeks, but I’m either put on hold or told they’re not allowed to speak to me,” she said.
“The only communication I’ve received has been from the insurance company. I’ve asked for help with funeral expenses, but nothing has been done to assist me.”
Last month, the Windhoek Observer reached out to Seapride for comment on the company’s vehicle maintenance practices and actions taken following the accident.
The company responded by stating that Seapride has been in contact with the family. “An investigation of the incident is currently underway by the Namibian authorities, and we are therefore unable to provide any further comment at this stage until the investigation has been concluded.
Questions sent to Seapride Foods regarding the forensic report and the company’s response to the findings were not answered by the time they went to print.
