A vehicle of the Makhado Municipality hit and killed a five-year-old girl at Tshikota Township, two kilometers west of Louis Trichardt, last Sunday.

It is alleged that Charity Mafhiakhomu, a Grade R pupil at Masedi Combined School, was playing in the street in front her family home with other children, when the car belonging to the Makhado Municipality car knocked her down.

The car is said to have been driven by an electrician who was connecting electricity in the township. Charity sustained serious injuries, and though she was quickly rushed to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, she was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The incident, according policed spokesman Capt Maano Sadike, happened at about 16:00. Sadike confirmed that a culpable homicide docket was opened for further investigation.

The mayor of Makhado Municipality, Cllr Glory Mashaba, and members of the municipality visited the Mafhiakhomu family on Monday and expressed their condolences to the family. "I feel greatly hurt by the incident. We understand what the family is going through. We are available to offer our support to the family," she added.

The mother of the deceased, Mrs Evelyn Mafhiakhomu, who has greatly affected by the loss of her lovely daughter, said that she was devastated by the incident. "I did not expect such a thing to happen to my daughter. She did not deserve to die. I am heartbroken," said Mafhiakhomu, who is in deep sorrow.

Though the ceremony will be held at Tshikota Township, according to family arrangements, Charity will be laid to rest at the Ha-Maila cemetery tomorrow.