SANELE Goodness May, the driver of the 22-wheeler which crashed into several vehicles at the bottom of Field’s Hill on 5 September, killing 23 people, will spend three more weeks in police custody after his bail hearing was postponed at the Pinetown Magistrates court on Monday 16 September.
May will be kept at the Pinetown SAPS holding cells until his hearing on 8 October.
State prosecutor, Vikesh Sewnath, said that the state was opposed to bail.
The postponement comes in light of allegations that the truck’s documentation was not in order, and that the truck’s brakes were faulty.
Theasen Pillay, May’s former attorney, who was appointed for him by his employer, Sagekal Logistics, withdrew from the case on Monday 16 September. According to media reports Pillay stated that there is a conflict of interest and that there were some inconsistencies to May’s statement.
Professor Lindokuhle Mdletshe has subsequently taken over as May’s representation.
Magistrate Queen Khuzwayo explained to May that the hearing would be postponed so that the state could investigate his statements shortly before the hearing was adjourned.
May was initially arrested on 22 counts of culpable homicide, but his charges have been upgraded to 22 cases of murder and a charge of reckless or negligent driving.
It is still unclear if the charges will be upgraded to 23 counts of murder, following the death of another victim on Saturday 14 September.
