Grief hung heavy outside Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday as families of 14 children killed in a horrific Vaal scholar transport crash struggled to come to terms with a reality no parent should ever face.
“We just want justice so that we can eventually find peace,” one family representative said quietly. “We cannot say how many years he should serve. That is for the courts. But justice must be done.”
Inside the courtroom, Ayanda Dludla, the 22-year-old driver accused in the crash that killed 14 children, stood briefly in the dock before the matter was postponed to April 22 to allow police to complete their investigations.
Dludla faces 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and reckless and negligent driving following the devastating crash involving a minibus and a truck.
He will remain in custody while the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decides on the final charges and where the trial will be heard.
According to his lawyer, Reward Nxumalo, the young driver has withdrawn his bail application while the defence waits to study the police docket.
“Indeed, my client has opted to abandon bail. We are waiting for the investigations to be concluded so that we can really see what the docket contains before we can possibly decide on the bail application,” Nxumalo said.
The attorney said Dludla was deeply affected by the tragedy and struggling emotionally while behind bars.
“But I must state that my client is very much remorseful about what happened on the day in question. And I understand that lives were lost, and as painful as it is,” he said.
Nxumalo added that the accused was battling to cope with the weight of the tragedy.
“He’s not coping. He cries in between the sessions. He’s not doing well.”
The defence is also considering whether Dludla may require psychological support while in detention.
“It’s something that we are considering. I’ve just come on record now, but I will have ample opportunity between now and the 22nd to meet with my client and see how best we can help him get the necessary treatment inside prison,” Nxumalo said.
However, outside court, grieving families say their pain runs far deeper.
Among them is Lucas Moiloa, a relative of one of the young victims, Leano Moiloa.
He said seeing Dludla in the courtroom reopened wounds that have barely begun to heal.
“Seeing him today broke us,” Moiloa said. “The moment we walked into the courtroom, all the images of the accident came flooding back.”
He described how Leano’s mother struggled to hold herself together as the proceedings unfolded.
“When we arrived, her mother became overwhelmed with emotion. She has to relive this pain every single day. It is extremely difficult for our family,” he said.
The family is still undergoing counselling as they attempt to cope with the devastating loss.
When told that Dludla is reportedly remorseful, Moiloa said the family finds it difficult to accept.
“Anyone can say they are sorry after something like this. But we are the ones who must live with the loss of our child,” he said.
He believes the crash could have been avoided.
“That accident was avoidable. He was careless. Our child was still so young. We had dreams for her and expected so much from her future. Now all of that is gone.”
The tragedy has been made even more painful by the fact that the two families live close to each other.
Moiloa said Dludla’s father attempted to approach them after the crash, but the family was not ready.
“We asked them to give us more time. We didn’t know what we would say or how that conversation would end,” he said.
Despite their pain, the family said they hope that one day they will find the strength to forgive.
“We will try to forgive him. Leano’s parents have already said they forgive him. But for the rest of us, the pain is still very fresh,” Moiloa said.
The Star
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