Police are investigating yet another fatal incident involving a cyclist. On Wednesday, 14 October, police attended to a crash scene on the N2 outside Swellendam where a cyclist, a foreign national, had been hit by a vehicle and fatally injured.

He was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.

Lt. Col. FC van Wyk says the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, and Swellendam police registered a culpable homicide case for investigation.

The Pedal Power Association says this is the 6th cyclist to have lost their life on the roads in the last 10 months.

CEO Neil Robinson says one life lost is far too many.

“To keep cyclists safe, we need improvement across education, law enforcement, NPA resourcing, and court efficiency. Crucially, the punishments handed down to offenders must be far tougher to serve as a true deterrent on our roads.”

The incident comes after a recent hit-and-run that left a 19-year-old cyclist dead.

Lilitha Lombo was killed in a hit-and-run collision while on a training ride with her club, Khaltsha Cycles, in Somerset West on Tuesday, 29 September.

The driver initially fled the scene, but was later arrested and released on R5000 bail. He is due back in court in December.

Lombo’s death has devastated the cycling community. On Sunday, 18 October, Pedal Power held a memorial ride for Lombo in Somerset West, laying down a Ghost Bike at the site where she was killed.

Premier Alan Winde, a keen cyclist himself, participated in the memorial ride.

Two days before Lombo’s death, two other cyclists were killed on the R102 Strand Road on Sunday 27 September.

The two cyclists were on their way to work when a silver-grey Hyundai i10 bumped them. Both men were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.

In August, cyclist Laura Blake died from injuries she sustained in a crash on Tokai Road. A vehicle struck her from behind just before the Blue Route Mall parking entrance.

In April this year, 61-year-old cyclist Landon le Grange died in the hospital after being struck by a minibus taxi on Victoria Road, Camps Bay, while riding with a group of cyclists. Minibus taxi driver Siyabonga Myabalala was traced and charged with culpable homicide.

Robinson has urged all motorists to be aware of cyclists, obey speed limits and leave at least 1m when passing a cyclist.