Mandlazi did not stop at railway crossing, witness testifies
Mr George Mandlazi, who is accused of having killed 24 people after the truck he had been driving ended up in front of an oncoming train near Hectorspruit last year, was talking to a female passenger who distracted him.
NELSPRUIT – Mr George Mandlazi, who is accused of having killed 24 people after the truck he had been driving ended up in front of an oncoming train near Hectorspruit last year, was talking to a female passenger who distracted him.
This is according to Mr Samuel Langa (37), one of the 31 witnesses to testify in the case. He had been seated in the front next to Mandlazi at the time of the accident. He added that Mandlazi did not stop at the railway crossing. In addition, he claimed that the driver who usually had transported the seasonal fruit pickers, always stopped at the crossing, even if a train was not approaching.
Mandlazi appeared in the Gauteng Circuit of the High Court today. He has been charged with 24 counts of murder, as well as 23 of attempted murder after the accident on July 13, 2012.
Ms Illana Erasmus, who is the defence advocate, started the proceedings by stating that Mandlazi will testify that he had stopped at the train crossing and waited until he thought that it was safe to cross. He did not see the train, and as far he knows, neither did the passengers.
Mr Hendrik Engelbrecht (51), farm manager of Tulloh between Malalane and Hectorspruit, contradicted this. He was the first witness to testify and said he was on duty that day. As he was inspecting his orchid, driving on the service route next to the railway, he saw and heard the hooting train when it approached the tracks 500 metres away. He said that he had a clear view of the slow-moving truck, driving on the slightly uphill road towards the crossing.
Both Engelbrecht and the occupants were heading in the direction of the farm. He then stated how Mandlazi had no intention of stopping at the crossing, after which the train collided with the truck, resulting in the death of 24 occupants. “Bodies were flying like feathers from a pillow upon impact,” Engelbrecht said.
The case is set to continue tomorrow at 09:00 where more witnesses will testify.
Read more about the intial report here.
