Tshepo Mashego (28) was sentenced to an effective 18 months in prison on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to driving an unlicensed vehicle and killing well-known South African mountain biker, Greg Anderson last Sunday.
Anderson was on a solo training ride early on Sunday morning while on holiday with his family at the Sabie River Sun. Mashego was reportedly drunk when he struck Anderson. However, according to a report on nuus24.com, the charge for drunken driving was dropped because there was insufficient proof.
Photo by Ewald Sadie/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
According to EWN, Mashego was sentenced to 36 months in prison, of which 18 months has been suspended for five years. Mashego’s license has been suspended for six months.
Njabulo Nyawose, the taxi driver found guilty of culpable homicide when he struck and killed legendary South African cyclist, Burry Stander, was sentenced to three years in prison. The conviction and sentencing took two-and-a-half years following the death of Stander on 3 January 2013. Nyawose pleaded not guilty and his counsel asked the state to prove that Stander wasn’t speeding at the time.
The conviction and sentencing of Mashego in the Hazyview Magistrates Court, took just four days.
“I am shocked at the light and totally unacceptable sentence for this ‘murder’. The speed with which this seems to have been resolved seems suspicious to me. As the greater cycling community, we cannot accept this and need to make an example of this driver,” said Andrew McLean, cycling TV personality and friend of Anderson.
“Sjoe! I’m speechless! So he will be in jail for maybe three months! This man ruined another family by taking Greg’s life. There are far too many incompetent drivers on our roads. His licence should also be completely cancelled. This is definitely not a suitable sentence,” said Amanda Stander, mother of the late Burry Stander.
Anderson (57), was a prolific podium finisher in his age division in a variety of high profile national and international events during the past 10 years. Among his best achievements was winning the 55-59-year world marathon championships world title in 2014 and finishing second in the Grand Masters category in the 2015 Absa Cape Epic (with Andrew McLean) and the 2017 Cape Epic (with Deon Kruger).
According to a report on the Lowvelder website earlier this week, Jacques Ainslie of LowMed Emergency Medical Services, who attended to the accident scene, Anderson died of abdominal injuries at the scene in what appeared to be a head-on impact with the maroon Toyota Tazz.
The article went on to say that Anderson’s bike flew through the vehicle’s windscreen, causing minor injuries to the driver’s face. The driver had to be transported to Matikwana Hospital to be treated for shock and was also taken into custody.
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