Families of victims attend court as driver abandons bail application in Vanderbijlpark tragedy
'Serious charges'
Ayanda Dludla appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court.
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
THE families of the 14 pupils who died in the horror crash in Vanderbijlpark were present in court today when 22 year old scholar transport driver Ayanda Dludla, who is accused of causing the accident, abandoned his bail application.
Dludla, sporting a a scar on his forehead, stood with his hands clasped and his head lowered in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court.
The driver faces 14 counts of murder as well as three charges of attempted murder, following the deadly crash that occurred on Monday.
"When we perused the docket, we saw that there is sufficient evidence to charge the accused with the charges of murder, as opposed to culpable homicide," said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana.
"As the state, we do have the prima facie evidence to charge the accused with the charges of murder. There is a case that the accused needs to answer. If the accused did not abandon his bail, the case was surely going to oppose his release on bail. He is facing 14 counts of murder, those are very serious charges. He is also facing three counts of attempted murder."
Dludla will return to court on March 5.
The accident, which sent shockwaves across Gauteng and the country, involved a scholar transport vehicle and a truck. Fourteen pupils have died from the crash, while others sustained injuries.
Three pupils are still receiving medical treatment following the crash. Authorities have confirmed that the injured pupils remain in hospital as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision continue.
On Tuesday, IOL reported that Gauteng police said the scholar transport driver was arrested after being discharged from the hospital, where he had been receiving treatment following the crash.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo previously said the driver of the truck involved in the crash escaped unharmed, while the truck’s passenger sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in hospital.
Investigations are ongoing as police continue to obtain witness statements and assess the events leading up to the crash.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns about scholar transport safety and road conditions, with calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and improved oversight of learner transport services.
More details around the crash are expected to emerge when the accused driver makes his first court appearance.