LISTEN: AfriForum takes aim at Ford

The group’s head of private prosecutions, Advocate Gerrie Nel, held a media briefing alongside Rashall’s sister Renisha in Centurion on Wednesday.

Jimmy died after being trapped in his luxury SUV three years ago.

Since then, Ford has recalled 4000 Kugas after some 80 vehicles caught fire in South Africa.

“We got involved when the NPA told us they are declining to prosecute. So, there is a prosecution, and somebody might be prosecuted on this matter,” Nel told the briefing. 

He described Ford as a corporate bully which has treated the Jimmy family unfairly.

They were offered a new vehicle worth R1 million and a trust in Rashall’s name, an offer which the family declined.

“Rashall lost his life he burnt in that car, trapped in there and I never wanted anyone else to suffer the same consequences,” Renisha said. 

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An inquest into Rashall death will begin in February 2019 and Nel says their intention is to pursue a criminal case following the inquest.

A couple from Standerton in Mpumalanga has also come forward describing how their Ford Kuga caught fire in their garage resulting in damages to their house in June 2018.

Carla Ambrosius says the car was taken to their dealership at the time of the recall. 

However, the family doesn’t know what exactly was checked and it was returned to them.

 “I don’t think Ford understands the trauma we went through because my husband was trapped in the house when the car caught alight. He was on the verge of signaling me to come to his rescue by driving the car that was outside a window to get him out. The emotional trauma we went through is the most significant thing here,” said Ambrosius.

Like the Jimmy family, Ambrosius says they want Ford to at least to admit there was something wrong with their vehicles.