GAUTENG. – Ayanda Dludla (23), driver of a minibus taxi that was transporting pupils, has been granted bail of R3 000 by the Vanderbijlpark magistrate's court. He faces 14 murder charges.
Lumka Mahanjana, NPA spokesperson, says Dludla is also standing trial on three counts of attempted murder and charges relating to driving a vehicle without a certificate of roadworthiness, without a professional driving permit (PrDP) and an unlicensed vehicle. The accident occurred on 19 January on the R553 Golden Highway. Dludla was transporting 17 pupils when the minibus taxi and an oncoming truck collided head-on. 14 pupils died in the collision, while three others were injured.
The state opposed Dludla's bail, but the court found that it is in the interests of justice that he be granted bail. As part of his bail conditions, Dludla must report to the Vanderbijlpark police station every Friday. He is also not permitted to drive any vehicle until the matter is finalised and may not interfere with state witnesses. He must remain at his mother's residence unless the investigating officer authorises otherwise. If he wishes to make an apology to the families of the deceased pupils, it may only be done through the investigating officer.
The matter has been postponed to 9 to 17 November 2026 for trial.
This article is an automatic English translation of a Nuusflits article originally published in Afrikaans. Read the Afrikaans original.
