The owner of the What Not China store in Kalk Bay has died from injuries her family say she sustained after being knocked down by a cyclist during the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Provincial police spokesman Sergeant Wesley Twigg said police had opened an inquest docket into the death of Edith Sanders, and her family were asking for anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward to aid the police investigation.
“Our mother, Edith “Eddie” Sanders, loved to dance, which is what she was seen doing with others as the Cape Town Cycle Tour passed by her shop on Sunday March 10. She was allegedly struck by one of the cyclists while crossing the road during the event, suffering multiple injuries,” said Ms Sanders’s son, Gordon Brace.
“Although she fought hard at the hospital and even demanded that we take her home, she died ten days later on Monday March 25,” he said.
“We weren’t present on that day, and we’re not trying to blame anyone. As a family, we just need closure. If anyone has information that could help the police investigation, please come forward,” he said.
Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust director David Bellairs expressed his condolences, saying: “We are deeply saddened by the incident.”
The incident had been recorded in the race’s joint operations centre, and the organisers had taken immediate action, he said, adding that paramedic services had been sent to the scene.
“I have requested a meeting with the chief medical officer and race director for early next week to establish as much additional detail as I am able to allow Muizenberg SAPS to investigate,” Mr Bellairs said.
Mr Brace said his mother had lived a full and rich life though not without its challenges.
“We were about to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday. She was determined to live past 100. She will be sorely missed by myself and my sister, Marilyn van Niekerk. We will always cherish the time we had with her.“
Sergeant Twigg said anyone with information about the incident could contact Muizenberg SAPS at 021 787 9014.