MALALANE – On Wednesday morning March 26, a truck transporting farm workers overturned on the R571 between Komatipoort and Coopersdal. According to community safety, security and liaison MEC Mr Vusi Shongwe, it was transporting people to work near Komatipoort at 5:00 when the driver lost control of the vehicle.
“The truck carried 60 passengers. Three of them sustained serious injuries and 57 others minor ones.
“They were rushed to Tonga and Shongwe hospitals for medical assistance.”
Shongwe added, “We do not want a repeat of what happened two years ago when a train collided with a truck near Malalane killing 24 workers who were being transported to one of the farms near Hectorspruit. Farm owners need to ensure that their workers are transported in roadworthy vehicles and by people who are fit to drive.”
He also called on drivers to obey traffic rules, whether in rural or urban areas, and to also ensure that they exercise caution on the roads. “Those who are found guilty of overloading or infringing the rules of the road will be brought to book. Shongwe has meanwhile wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile the trial of the truck driver whose vehicle collided with a train on
July 13, 2012, came to an unexpected halt when it was again postponed to June 23, due to judge Nomsa Khumalo’s failure to appear in the Gauteng Circuit of the High Court on Monday.
Mr George Mandlazi (32) was charged with 24 counts of murder after the truck he had been driving collided with a train near Hectorspruit. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges last year.
Mandlazi was on his way to Tulloh Farm with 47 seasonal fruit pickers when the accident occurred.
Twenty-four people died a horrific death and 31 witnesses, including some of the survivors, were subpoenaed by the state to testify against him.
Mr Samuel Langa (37), who had been seated in the front of the truck next to the driver, testified last year that Mandlazi had been distracted as he was talking to a female passenger. He added he didn’t stop at the railway crossing. In addition, he testified that the driver who usually transported them, always stopped at the crossing, even if there was no train approaching.
Mr Hendrik Engelbrecht (51), manager of Tulloh, testified in the trial that he was driving on the service route next to the railway that day, inspecting his orchard. He saw and heard a whistling train approaching.
He said he had a clear view of the slow-moving truck, driving on the slightly uphill road towards the crossing.
Both Engelbrecht and the truck were heading in the direction of the farm. He added that Mandlazi didn’t stop at the crossing.
“Bodies flew like feathers from a pillow upon impact,” he said.
Mandlazi admitted he had been careless.
The 23 counts of attempted murder were withdrawn and Mandlazi is out on bail.
