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Madam Premier's worthless promise

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane has backed down on her vow to help pay blue-light convoy victim Thomas Ferreira's medical costs, which have now topped R1-million.

Gallery of images taken after Ferreira was hit by a “blue light” cowboy.

Mokonyane originally told Ferreira's parents - and the news media - that her department would pay up after Ferreira, 19, was knocked off his motorcycle by the speeding "blue light" car of local government and housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi on November 5, 2011. He has received nothing.

'WHAT BUDGET WOULD PAY?'

Mokonyane asked local government and housing department head Mongezi Monyane to manage negotiations about Ferreira's accident costs but he told Beeld newspaper there had been a misunderstanding about what the premier said.

"If the premier's office or my office had to pay the costs, I don't know what budget this was supposed to have come out of," he said.

Ferreira suffered a brain injury in the collision and spent weeks in a coma. He was only recently discharged from a rehabilitation centre.

Mokonyane visited the family on November 8 and publicly promised - in front of the news media which placed it on record - and Ferreira's family to cover his medical costs.

RAF PAYOUT REQUESTED

In a statement to the news media issued later that day, Mokonyane's spokesman Xoli Mngambi said, among other things: "Mokonyane made a promise to the family that the provincial government will take care of Ferreira's medical costs."

Is THAT clear enough for you, Mongezi Monyane?

The Ferreiras have said their son's medical bills already amount to more than R1-million.

The Ferreira's lawyer Karl Schuler has applied for an interim payout from the Road Accident Fund.

Monyane told Beeld that he had contacted a senior RAF official to try and expedite the process.

The driver of the "blue light" car that collided with Ferreira on November 5 2011 year could be charged on Monday (April 16). National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga told Beeld the police sent the investigation report to the Director of Public Prosecutions in April 11.
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