1 August 2025
Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - A fully-grown hippo can weigh more than 2 tonnes. Hitting one in the middle of road while you are approaching at 120 km/h is like hitting a wall, and could easily be fatal.
A car salesman had a narrow escape on Thursday July 24 while he was travelling from Wolmaransstad to Klerksdorp at about 23:00. He crashed his car while swerving to avoid a hippo standing in the middle of the road.
Seun Dichabe was alone in the vehicle and said he thought he was going to die for sure. “It was a terrible shock to see such a huge animal in the middle of a national road. At first I thought I still hit the animal. It turned out that I hit a pole next to the road. I was just so happy to be alive. It was a horrible crash and I injured my leg and ankle. I called my boss to come and help me. He is my go-to-guy,” he told Klerksdorp Record.
The accident occurred close to Grootbosch and the vehicle is a write-off.
There was a lookout for the hippo and farmers in the area managed to track and catch him the following day. At this stage, it is not sure from where the animal escaped. The animal is unharmed.
People reading the post on Klerksdorp Record’s Facebook page urged Dichabe to sue the owner of the hippo for damages. Dichabe said he instructed a lawyer as he wants the hippo’s owner to accept responsibility.
“At the moment, it is unsure who the owner is. There are various game farms in the area. The suspected owner denies that he is the owner. I am getting quotes for the damage to the vehicle. I also want to sue for medical costs as I have chest pains and injuries to my leg and ankle.’’
