Pongola horror crash: Case against truck driver postponed for bail hearing

The case against the truck driver that was allegedly behind Friday’s horror N2 Pongola crash, which claimed the lives of 20 people in northern KwaZulu-Natal, has been postponed till next week for a bail hearing.

Culpable homicide

Sibusiso Siyaya, 28, made his first court appearance on Monday in the Pongola Magistrates’ Court on 21 counts of culpable homicide and a case of negligent driving.

ALSO READ: At least 21 killed in truck and bakkie crash on the N2 near Pongola

This follows Friday’s crash in which a truck crashed into a bakkie that was transporting mostly school children on the N2 highway between Pongola and Itshelejuba.

The accident killed 18 school pupils, aged between five and 12, and two adults.

Death toll revised down

Preliminary indications pointed to human error and failure to adhere to the rules of the road as the cause of the accident.

The death toll on Monday was revised down from 21 to 20 after the South African Police Service‘s forensic experts discovered that one body was counted twice.

The 28-year-old handed himself over to police on Saturday, after allegedly fleeing from the accident scene.

During his court appearance, Siyaya opposed the media’s application to film or photograph the proceedings of his case, saying he feared for his safety and retaliation from the community.

The state argued that while the accused’s rights should be respected, they should be balanced with those of the general public.

The court confirmed that Siyaya may not be filmed or photographed until the outcome of his bail application next week.

Siyaya was also provisionally granted legal aid because he didn’t have legal representation.

The case was deferred to 26 September 2022 for his bail hearing.  

The State is opposing Siyaya’s bail application alleging that he attempted to avoid justice when he fled the accident scene.

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