VANDERBIJLPARK – The man implicated in the horror crash that killed 14 pupils only three days after schools opened in January appeared in Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court today, March 5.

Ayanda Dludla’s fate hangs in the balance as the court awaits the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to decide on the final charges and where the trial will take place.

The 22-year-old was arrested shortly after the accident involving a minibus and a truck. He currently faces several charges, including 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and reckless and negligent driving.

Dludla’s case has been postponed until April 22.

Dludla’s lawyer, Advocate Reward Nxumalo, told the media that his client is struggling to cope in Vereeniging Prison. While Dludla has chosen not to apply for bail for now, his legal team says he is deeply sorry for what happened.

“He cries in between the sessions,” Nxumalo said, adding that they are considering psychiatric observation and counselling while he is behind bars.

“We understand that lives were lost, and as painful as it is, I’ve seen my client, and I’ve seen the family of the victims. This is the one part where, in the eyes of the law, we have to balance the various factors,” he added.

The courtroom gallery was filled with grieving relatives, including the Moiloa family.

Family spokesperson Lucas Moiloa described the ongoing pain of losing young Leano Moiloa, a Grade Eight pupil at Vaal High.

“The case brought back the visuals of the accident and plunged us into the horrible pain. All we are hoping for is justice. The law knows best how to deal with people who commit such crimes. These children were young, and we had hope for a lot of them. The driver was sheerly careless,” he said.

The state prosecutor, Titus Daniso, confirmed that they are still waiting for the DPP to decide if the 14 murder charges will stand as the case moves forward.