LIMPOPO - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has made it clear that he was not the driver of the car that struck and killed a 37-year-old woman and her infant son.
It was, in fact, his VIP protection driver whom he has now placed on a week’s leave.
Motsoaledi visited the home of Beauty Shoperai and her partner, Paul Masunda, days after they were both fatally struck along the N1 in separate incidents last week, on Saturday, 9 May 2026.
READ | Mother and child killed in crash involving Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's vehicle
Shoperai, who had her infant strapped on her back, was attempting to cross the highway to reach her husband, who had died minutes earlier in another accident.
"Nobody goes out and decides to cause an accident or prepare for an accident; it never happens. So, the fact that I'm a minister does not then mean that the blame must fall on me; I was not even driving.
"I didn't even see what happened, just like any other person who happens to be in a vehicle that gets involved in an accident, which is extremely unfortunate," he said.
Motsoaledi dismissed claims that he was traveling in a convoy.
He said he was in one car with two protectors - a police officer and a police agent.
"There was absolutely no convoy."
Efforts are underway to repatriate the bodies of the three family members to Zimbabwe.
Motsoaledi has pledged support for the family of the woman and infant killed by his driver.
Meanwhile, family members said they do not blame the Minister for the tragedy.
“We’re really depressed about what’s happened. But we feel better after receiving help from the Minister and the SA government. The minister is welcome, an accident is an accident, we don’t have grief with him because it’s not his problem.”
The Independent Investigative Directorate is following up on two cases of culpable homicide following the incidents, with no arrests yet.