The Pongola truck driver responsible for the deaths of 20 people on the N2 highway in northern KwaZulu-Natal has been denied bail.
Sibusiso Siyaya appeared in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where his bail was denied.
“Siyaya is charged on 20 counts of culpable homicide after the truck that he was driving plunged into a bakkie transporting school children in September last year,” said Natasha Ramkisoon-Kara, the provincial spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
The accident killed 18 school pupils aged between five and 12, and two adults.
Preliminary indications pointed to human error and failure to adhere to the rules of the road as the cause of the accident.
Footage of the crash shows the truck overtaking another truck on a double barrier line before smashing head-on into a bakkie.
The 28-year-old man handed himself over to the police on Saturday, after allegedly fleeing from the scene of the accident.
Rakimsoon-Kara said in Wednesday’s judgement, the court found that the state had proven its case that Siyaya was a flight risk who might abscond if released on bail.
“The court found that it was not in the interest of justice to grant him bail and bail was thus refused. The matter was adjourned to 17 February for DPP decision and further investigations.”
During his last court appearance, Siyaya opposed the media’s application to photograph or film the court proceedings of his case, saying he feared for his safety and potential retaliation from the community.
While the accused’s rights should be respected, they should be balanced with those of the general public, the state argued.
The matter was adjourned to February 17 for the director of prosecutions (DPP) decision and further investigation.
Source: Eyewitness News, IOL, Then Citizen, Jacaranda FM, Sowetan Live, image from Twitter: @TrafficRT
