22-year-old driver in court on murder charges as South Africa school bus crash d3ath toll rises to 14

22-year-old driver in court on murder charges as South Africa school bus crash d3ath toll rises to 14

The 22-yr-old driver accused of causing the horror crash which claimed the lives of 14 school scholars in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, seemed in court docket on Thursday, where he abandoned his bail utility.

Ayanda Dludla was once charged with 14 counts of m8rder, attempted m8rder, driving barring a valid allow and using an unlicensed vehicle following the d3adly crash that befell on Monday, January 19, 2026.

He was riding a pupil transport automobile on the R553 Golden motorway, transporting sixteen scholars, when he collided head-on with an oncoming truck.

families of the deceased inexperienced persons stuffed the courtroom as Ayanda Dludla, wearing a scar on his forehead.

“when we perused the docket, we saw that there’s enough evidence to price the accused with the charges of m8rder, in place of culpable homicide,” said country wide Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in Gauteng, Lumka Mahanjana.

“as the kingdom, we do have the prima facie evidence to price the accused with the expenses of murder. there is a case that the accused desires to reply. If the accused did now not abandon his bail, the case was once in reality going to oppose his launch on bail. he’s facing 14 counts of m8rder, those are very serious expenses. He is likewise facing three counts of tried m8rder.”

Dludla will go back to court on five March.

The tragic coincidence has despatched shockwaves across Gauteng and the united states,

Fourteen freshmen have d!ed from the crash, whilst others sustained injuries.

3 newbies are nonetheless receiving scientific remedy following the crash.

government have showed that the injured scholars continue to be in health center as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision continue..

the driving force used to be arrested on Tuesday after being discharged from the health facility, wherein he had been receiving treatment following the crash. receiving treatment following the crash.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo previously stated the driver of the truck worried within the crash escaped unhurt, even as the truck’s passenger sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in clinic.