Trail of destruction
The 43-year-old driver of a sugar cane truck which ploughed through Jozini's central business district earlier this month, killing eight people and leaving 22 injured, declined to apply for bail when he appeared in the Ubombo Magistrate's Court on Friday.
THE 43-year-old driver of a sugar cane truck which ploughed through Jozini’s central business district earlier this month, killing eight people and leaving 22 injured, declined to apply for bail when he appeared in the Ubombo Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Gift Sipho Ntuli was remanded in police custody and is expected to appear in court again on 28 July.
He faces charges of culpable homicide, reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Jozini Mayor, Delani Mabika, said besides the 10 damaged vehicles, two market buildings were also damaged.
‘Of the 22 people rushed to various hospitals, 10 have already been discharged. Of the remaining 12 still in hospital, four are in a critical condition,’ said Mabika.
Visiting the crash site last week, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli, said he was appalled to learn that the truck driver was suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.
‘Driving under the influence of alcohol contributes significantly to the rising road death toll in the country. The blatant disregard for the rules of the road is to blame for the deaths of so many people, which also comes at a huge cost to the economy,’ he said.
Ntuli requested police to fast-track the investigation into the cause of the accident.
He also expressed his concern about the increase in road accidents and fatalities in the province since the country moved to Covid-19 lockdown Level 3.