Durban — The truck driver involved in the horror Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal crash that resulted in the death of 20 people is due in court on Monday.
Sibusiso Siyaya, 28, will be appearing in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court.
He is facing 20 counts of culpable homicide after a truck he was driving collided with a bakkie, killing 18 schoolchildren and two adults.
He appeared in court last week where he was remanded in custody.
It is anticipated that a large group of community members, families and other community leaders will be picketing outside the court amid Siyaya’s court appearance.
During the weekend, 13 schoolchildren and the driver of the bakkie were buried after a moving mass funeral service that was held at the Waterbus Sports Field in Pongola.
Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula led a government delegation that joined the mourners. He was accompanied by Minister of Police Bheki Cele and Deputy Minister of Education Dr Reginah Mhaule.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Sipho Hlomuka, including religious leaders, members of traditional leadership structures and teacher unions, teachers and learners from the affected schools also attended the funeral.
Last Thursday, Mbalula visited the area and released a report on the accident. In his report, Mbalula said the truck driver was allegedly reckless because it was alleged he overtook vehicles on a barrier line and drove in the oncoming lane for 1.2km, endangering the lives of motorists.
He said Siyaya had allegedly never made an attempt to get back into his lane.
Mbalula said Siyaya’s alleged behaviour was a major contributing factor to the accident.
He also condemned the carrying of passengers at the back of a goods delivery vehicle.
“To ensure companies that own trucks, which move goods on our roads, adhere to strict compliance with the law, we will encourage the MEC in the province to invoke Section 50 of the National Road Traffic Act,” he said.
Mbalula said more law enforcement officers would be deployed to the area.
According to the Department of Basic Education, 10 learners who were killed were from Victorious Independent School while two were from Thembokuhle Primary School.
It said one pupil from Siyathemba Primary School died, and two pupils from Sakhumuzi Primary school.
The teacher who died in the crash taught at Buhlebuzile Primary school.
Daily News