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Zuma son probed for fatal crash in South Africa: reports

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AFP Johannesburg
Police are investigating a son of South Africa's President Jacob Zuma for manslaughter after a woman died in an accident involving his sports car, media reports said today.

Duduzane Zuma, a businessman, crashed his Porsche into a minibus taxi just before midnight on February 1 in the suburb of Sandton, the Sunday Independent, the Sunday Times and Eyewitness News radio reported.

Police confirmed an investigation of manslaughter against the Porsche driver, but declined to name the person until charges are laid and he appears in court.

"There was an incident where a Porsche collided in the rear of a taxi in the dark during heavy rain," said Johannesburg Metro Police spokesman Wayne Minnaar.
 

"The taxi overturned and one person died; two were injured," he told AFP.

The fatality was 30-year-old Zimbabwean national Phumzile Dube, who was buried in her home country yesterday, the Sunday Times reported.

Her husband told the newspaper that no one had contacted the family.

"Zuma killed my wife and I want justice," said Themba Dube. "It doesn't matter whether he is the president's son- justice doesn't have eyes."

Taxi driver Vusi Dlamini was hospitalised after he collapsed at the scene.

"I don't like what happened. He bumped me out of the blue and my taxi overturned. One passenger died instantly," he told the Sunday Times.

The officer on the scene did not take blood alcohol tests, Minnaar said.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj told AFP he did not comment on Zuma family matters.

Duduzane, who turns 30 this year, is one of four children that Zuma had with his second wife Kate, who committed suicide in 2000.

Zuma currently has four wives and at least 21 children, some out of wedlock.

Duduzane Zuma has business relations with close family associates the Gupta brothers, and reportedly owns interests in their pro-government newspaper The New Age and ANN7 television news network.

The Gupta brothers, originally from India, made headlines last year when they landed a plane filled with wedding guests at a military airbase without proper authorisation.

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First Published: Feb 09 2014 | 4:15 PM IST

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