Taxi driver charged with murder

Published Aug 17, 2011

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A taxi driver has been charged with 10 counts of murder after he allegedly caused an accident in Kokstad three weeks ago.

KwaZulu-Natal department of transport Spokesman Kwanele Ncalane said on Wednesday the driver appeared in the Kokstad Magistrate's Court on Tuesday after he was discharged from hospital.

His case was remanded to August 23.

Ten people, including a three-year-old boy, died in the accident on August 6.

The driver was making a U-turn on the N3 highway when a bus crashed into his taxi.

Both vehicles rolled down a 10-metre embankment and landed in a river. More than 30 people were also injured in the accident.

Transport MEC Willies Mchunu welcomed the decision to charge the driver.

“I hope this will send a serious warning to all road users who break the rules of the road. I am proud that our courts are now heeding our call of taking these killings seriously.”

He said the department was mobilising the Kokstad community as well as local religious leaders to appear at the hearing and show support for the decision.

“We refuse to allow lawlessness to continue to rob people of their lives,” he said. - Sapa

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