The family of South African teacher Francois Van Zyl de Kock is fundraising to cover 880,000 yuan in compensation sought after a fatal traffic incident in Wuhan in August 2025. He faces a proposed prison sentence of 3-4 years. Funds are being raised through a promotional competition offering entries to win artwork.
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Source: OT-Team(G), The Citizen
The family of South African teacher Francois Van Zyl de Kock has launched a public fundraising campaign to raise approximately 880,000 yuan (about R2.2 million) in compensation sought by the relatives of a Chinese woman who died following a traffic incident in Wuhan in August 2025.
Van Zyl de Kock, originally from Vanderbijlpark, has been held in detention in the central Chinese city for about three months after being arrested in connection with the incident. Prosecutors have reportedly proposed a prison sentence of between three and four years while legal proceedings continue under the Chinese judicial system.
Incident under investigation
According to statements released by his family, the accident occurred on the evening of 3 August 2025 during heavy rain, as Van Zyl de Kock was returning to his apartment on an electric scooter. Relatives say he had recently relocated to Wuhan after teaching in Hainan Province, hoping to expand his teaching career and pursue opportunities in rugby coaching.
The family maintains that poor visibility caused by a sudden downpour and low lighting conditions contributed to the incident. They said an elderly woman allegedly ran into the road from in front of a bus at around 10 p.m., and that Van Zyl de Kock believed he had not made contact with anyone and continued home.
Police later determined that a collision had occurred. The woman succumbed to injuries roughly one month after the incident. Van Zyl de Kock was arrested at his residence two days after the accident and informed of the case at that time, according to his relatives.
The family says he is cooperating fully with authorities and is represented by two lawyers in China.
Compensation claim and legal pressure
In addition to the potential custodial sentence, the deceased woman's family is seeking financial compensation totaling 880,000 yuan. Van Zyl de Kock's relatives describe themselves as a middle-class family unable to meet the amount without public assistance.
They added that he moved to China partly to improve his financial prospects, support his hearing-impaired son, and gain international work experience.
Family members say communication with him has been limited since his detention, heightening their concern as the legal process continues.
Fundraising campaign launched
To raise funds, the family has organized what they describe as a legally structured promotional competition compliant with South African regulations. For every R100 donated, contributors receive one entry into a draw to win an original artwork by late South African artist Frans Claerhout, valued between R55,000 and R80,000. A free entry option is also available, as required by law.
As of the latest updates, the campaign had raised just over R20,000 from fewer than two dozen donors — far short of the compensation amount being sought.
The case remains before Chinese courts, and no final judgment has yet been issued. Family members say their immediate priority is securing the requested compensation while continuing to support Van Zyl de Kock through the ongoing legal proceedings.
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