NELSPRUIT – The trial of the truck driver whose vehicle collided with a train, 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.
George Mandlazi (32) was charged with 24 counts of murder after the truck he had been driving ended up in front of an oncoming train near Hectorspruit, and he pleaded guilty to lesser charges, last year.
Mandlazi was on his way to Tulloh farm with 47 seasonal fruit pickers on July 13, 2012 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 that 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 from 500 metres away.
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 no stop at the crossing but collided with the train.
“Bodies were flying like feathers from a pillow upon impact,” he said.
Mandlazi admitted that he had not kept a proper lookout and that he had been careless.
The 23 counts of attempted murder were withdrawn and Mandlazi is out on bail.
