Outrage as motorist granted bail after cyclist's tragic death in Camps Bay

A motorist accused of speeding and driving under the influence and killing a cyclist in Camps Bay was released on R15 000 bail on Wednesday, despite a petition and calls that he remain in custody.

A large group of cyclists gathered outside the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court earlier in the day, staging a protest and calling for accountability, while also urging urgent action to improve cyclist safety on Cape Town’s roads, particularly along the Atlantic Seaboard.

The 27-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday following a fatal collision in which a 41-year-old cyclist was killed.

The cyclist, Idries Sheriff, a father and husband, was killed on Tuesday while out on a solo ride along Victoria Road. According to a petition backing the protest, he was struck head-on after a driver, allegedly under the influence and travelling at speed in a high-performance vehicle, lost control, crossed into the oncoming lane and mounted the pavement.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde publicly supported those who gathered in solidarity with the Sheriff family. “Thanks the cyclists and Pedal Power Association that came out today to stand in solidarity with the family of Idries Sheriff. We are calling for NO BAIL and swift Justice,” Winde said.

The petition describes cycling as more than a pastime for Sheriff, calling it “a lifeline, a way of reconnecting with himself, his body, and his city”, and places his death within a broader pattern of fatal crashes linked to reckless and drunk driving.

It further argues that “we cannot allow such actions to go unpunished and endanger public safety in the way that it has”, while calling for the full extent of the law to be applied in the prosecution.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the bail outcome. “The accused, Bongani Mthethwa, was released on R15 000 bail in the Cape Town Magistrates’ court  on December 17. The case was remanded until 22 April 2026 pending further investigation,” Twigg said.

Twigg earlier confirmed that according to reports the driver of a BMW collided with the victim. He said the victim was declared dead at the scene.

In addition to opposing bail, petitioners are urging the City of Cape Town and its law enforcement agencies to tighten speeding regulations, impose harsher consequences for extreme speeding and drunk driving, and increase roadblocks and traffic visibility during peak cycling and pedestrian periods, especially on weekends and public holidays.

Cyclists said they would continue to mobilise until accountability is ensured and meaningful steps are taken to make the city’s roads safer for all road users.

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Cape Argus