SWAZILAND – A 46-year-old truck driver accused of causing the horrific accident which claimed 13 lives during the annual reed dance appeared in court on charges of culpable homicide. Mr Sigwili Ndzimandze was denied bail by the Manzini Magistrate’s Court on September 1, apparently for his own safety as emotions were still high among the victims’ family members.
The accident happened on August 28 at kaMahhala in Matsapha where three tipper trucks ferrying reed dance maidens to eLudzidzini Royal Residence collided with each other after being apparently disturbed by another vehicle.
Reliable sources who cannot be named for fear of reprisals, said 10 victims died on the spot, however, the clarity around the exact number of the victims killed were somehow confusing as the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) claimed the number to range between 38 and 65.
According to Citizen, SSN said the young girls were exposed to danger because transporting people in open trucks was against traffic laws, adding that this was not the first incident where young girls had been injured during royal events, but this year’s incident was massive.
Spokesperson for the Swazi government Mr Percy Simelane refuted the claims made by SSN and other opposing movements on the figures and said only 13 maidens, including two men were killed. “One girl was critically injured and was transferred for treatment to South Africa while other injured maidens were treated and discharged from hospitals in Swaziland,” he said.
A state funeral was given to the maidens over the weekend.
