VANDERBIJLPARK – Ayanda Dludla, the 22-year-old driver involved in the deadly Vaal scholar transport crash, is now facing 14 counts of murder following his first appearance in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court this morning where he abandoned his bail application.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana confirmed that the driver was initially charged with culpable homicide, but that the charges were upgraded after prosecutors assessed the evidence contained in the police docket.
“Initially at face value the charges were culpable homicide. But when the NPA perused the docket and studied the evidence we found that we have prima facie evidence to prefer murder charges against the accused,” Lumka said.
She confirmed that the accused now faces 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, as well as charges of operating a motor vehicle without a certificate of fitness, driving without a professional driving permit, and operating an unlicensed motor vehicle.
The charges stem from a devastating crash that occurred on Monday morning, when the scholar transport vehicle collided with a truck on the R553 Golden Highway.
Eleven learners were killed at the scene, and one other died in hospital later that day.
Two more succumbed to their injuries in the early hours on this morning, bringing the death toll to 14.
READ: Death toll rises to 14 in Vaal scholar transport crash; driver due in court
Mahanjana said investigations are still ongoing.
“You must understand that this incident occurred this week so there is still a lot of investigation the State needs to finalize. There are still outstanding witness statements and we are also awaiting forensic results,” she told the media outside court.
“The State believes it has a strong case and if the accused had not abandoned his bail, the State was going to oppose,” Lumka added.
The matter has been postponed to 5 March for further investigation.
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