MBOMBELA – The driver of a bus that crashed with a freight train, resulting in the deaths of four people, was sentenced in the Circuit High Court on Wednesday. Goodman Ngomane (49), wants to appeal the outcome of the case, which sent him to jail for three years.
On July 31, 2010 Ngomane was the driver of a bus transporting pupils of Khokhoba Primary School near Bushbuckridge. Driving from Pretoria to Bushbuckridge, the bus collided with a freight train at a railway crossing close to Thulamahashe.
Two pupils and a teacher died on the scene. A third learner died in hospital two days later.
The judge, Ms Nomsa Victoria Khumalo found Ngomane guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment, of which two years were suspended for five years. His driver’s licence was also suspended for 12 months.
Khumalo made mention of the accused’s reaction to the accident. “When the accused saw the oncoming train, he himself jumped out of the bus he was driving. He did not stop to see if the children needed assistance. I find it was the cruellest thing to do,”
she said.
Mr Coert Jordaan, Ngomane’s attorney, indicated that he had been instructed to appeal on Wednesday. To request leave to appeal, he will submit a petition to the president of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
