Durban - The family of the truck driver blamed for the Pongola crash two weeks ago that killed 20 people – 18 pupils, a pregnant student teacher and the driver of the bakkie – are heartbroken. Sibusiso Siyaya, 28, from Jozini, appeared in court on Monday facing 20 counts of culpable homicide, but abandoned his application for bail.
Through his legal team, Siyaya told the Pongola Magistrate’s Court he would not apply for bail, but chose to remain behind bars. The case was postponed until October 25.
His father, Velaphi Siyaya, 76, said the family was still in a state of shock and was heartbroken, as the accident involved young children. The schoolchildren killed were aged between 5 and 14 years old. “We are so sorry and sad about what happened, we offer our condolences to all their families,” he said.
Siyaya sr told the Sunday Tribune that his son was their only breadwinner. “It is up to the court to find my son guilty or not.
I love all my children, but if they have done wrong, they know that there are consequences for their actions. That is why, as a father, I advised him to abandon his bail application,” he said.
He said his son was a humble, down-to-earth person who would not deliberately hurt anyone. “What he did that day still surprises me, because Sibusiso is an experienced driver.
He got his licence a long time ago,” he said. Siyaya said he was concerned about Sibusiso’s mother, who had diabetes. “Ever since the accident, her sugar levels are always high, even if monitored and, given that Sibusiso is the youngest out of our four children, it gives her nightmares,” he said.
On Friday, Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula and the MEC of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison for KwaZulu-Natal, Sipho Hlomuka, visited King Misuzulu to give a status update on infrastructural development and the Pongola accident.
Mbalula said the project, set to be completed by June next year, would cost R2.5 billion. He announced interventions to improve infrastructure, including the Isandlwana roadways, to promote tourism and economic growth.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE