A culpable homicide investigation is underway, with a mother and son having lost their lives in a car crash along Helshoogte Pass in the Cape Winelands.  

The accident is said to have occurred on that road between Stellenbosch and Pniel last Thursday, while the mother was reportedly on her way to St. Ida’s Primary School to drop her son. 

“This office confirms that Cloetesville police registered a case of culpable homicide following an accident that occurred at Helshoogte Pass on Thursday 22 October 2026 at around 07:42… The circumstances surrounding the accident are under investigation,” said Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Constable Ndahke Gwala.  

According to Die Burger, the mother is believed to have lost control of her vehicle and then collided with another vehicle.  

The six-year-old boy, whose name is Berto-Lee Adams, died on the scene, with police confirming that he sustained fatal injuries. 

His mother, 38-year-old Gaynor Adams, reportedly died in hospital on Tuesday.  

St. Idas Primary School and Speelkring Pre-Primary, where Berto-Lee attended school and an after-school programme respectively, confirmed that Gaynor succumbed to her injuries, days after the incident.  

“Words fail us as we are still trying to process and navigate the devastating loss of little Berto-Lee. Our hearts are broken as we now have to say goodbye to his mommy too,” read the Speelkring Pre-Primary statement.  

St. Idas Primary staff said they are deeply shocked and heartbroken by the tragedy.

“We keep the Adams-family and all their loved ones in our thoughts and prayers. May God surround them with His unfailing love, grant them strength in the days ahead, and bring comfort to their hearts during this time of unimaginable loss,” said St. Idas Primary School in a statement.