Durban - Sanele May, the truck driver who was at the wheel of a truck which killed 24 people and injured scores in the notorious 2013 Field’s Hill accident, is a free man. His supporters - members of the Sanele May Support Group on Facebook - made the information public on Wednesday.
The Daily News has since established that May was released on December 27, after recommendations by the parole board.
A source said May was handed over to the Home Affairs deportation unit on the day of his release and the deportation process started.
“Procedurally, an offender is delivered to a specific address when released and has to abide by the parole conditions at all times. I don’t know what the parole conditions are in this case or how those conditions will be enforced, given that May is a foreign national,” said the source.
The fact that May was deported did not dampen the joy of his supporters.
Peach Piche, administrator of the support group, said May was released from the Umzinto prison and held at Scottburgh before being transferred to Port Shepstone.
She thanked all May’s well-wishers and those who had visited him in prison while he served his sentence.
“The families (of the victims) are also constantly in our thoughts and we wish them continuous healing as they hold on to the beautiful memories of loved ones who were taken too soon.
“This is the end of what has been a very challenging chapter and it’s time for Sanele to write a new one. We are very aware that the families have suffered a lot, but it needs to be remembered that this was not murder. Sanele was also a victim in this situation and he served his time,” Piche said.
Gregory Govender truck was involved in the fatal accisent in 2013.
Some of the wreckage from the scene, where 24 people were killed.
Mother-of-two Ntombi Duma survived the accident with head injuries leading to deafness in one ear.
Duma told the Daily News yesterday she had no hard feelings towards May as she had leant to live with her injuries.
She said she was trying to forget that fateful day when 24 people around her died when the brakes of the Sagekal Logistics truck driven by May failed, and ploughed into several vehicles.
“This has the potential to open up old wounds for some because families lost mothers and fathers while others lost children and breadwinners.”
May had spent 14 months at Westville Prison before being sentenced in the Durban High Court in 2014 to eight years behind bars.
He had pleaded guilty to 31 charges that included 24 counts of culpable homicide, fraud and being in possession of a fake certificate and public driving permit.
Theasen Pillay, a lawyer for Gregory Govender, the owner of Sagekal Logistics, said his client had no ill feelings towards May.
“My client has lost all his trucks and had a debt of over R20 million after the accident and court proceedings. After wrapping up his trial, he restarted his business on a much smaller scale,” said Pillay.
In 2017, Govender, under a plea and sentence agreement, paid a R25 000 fine - R20 000 for failing to maintain a roadworthy vehicle and R5 000 for hiring May, who was not eligible to work in the country.