Pongola accident: Mass funeral to be held for deceased

28-year-old Sibusiso Siyaya, the driver of the truck in the Pongola crash, will be facing multiple culpable homicides in court on Monday.

Sep 22, 2022 - 22:31

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Pongola accident: Mass funeral to be held for deceased

On Thursday, 22 September, Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula released the findings of the devastating Pongola crash that took the lives of 20 people.

The report on the accident that made headlines points toward reckless behaviour on the part of the truck driver. Last week Friday, a truck and bakkie transporting school children collided, killing 20 people.

Sibusiso Siyaya overtook vehicles where this action was prohibited – Mbalula

During a media briefing at the site of the accident, Mbalula stated that preliminary investigations point to reckless driving on the part of 28-year-old Sibusiso Siyaya – the driver of the truck.

Siyaya faces a number of charges of culpable homicide and is expected to appear in court again on Monday, 26 September.

“The report found that the driver of the articulated truck overtook multiple vehicles where this action was prohibited by no overtaking lanes, in a dangerous and unlawful manner,” said Mbalula.

A mass funeral will be held for the 20 people who died

The news comes after an investigation was completed by the Road Traffic Management Corporation, reports EWN.

Minister Mbalula stated that the 18 school children and two adults who died in the accident will be buried in a mass funeral on Saturday, 24 September.

Today we released the Report; it found that the driver of the articulated truck overtook multiple vehicles, where this action was prohibited by no-overtaking lines, in a dangerous & unlawful manner.

Driver overtook vehicles & drove on the oncoming lane for approximately 1.2KMs. pic.twitter.com/SCy4MJiYRd
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) September 22, 2022

WATCH: Dashcam footage of the horrific N2 Pongola crash

Previously, it was reported that dashcam footage showing how the horrific crash between a van and a truck on the N2 near Pongola in KwaZulu-Natal happened has emerged. The accident claimed the lives of 21 people including 19 children.

The horror crash happened on Friday, 16 September in broad daylight. Initially, 10 people were confirmed dead but the death toll keeps on rising and according to television news station eNCA.

Dashcam footage shows the speeding truck driver attempting to overtake another truck when he crashed onto the van that was transporting school pupils. Read the full story here.