VANDERBIJLPARK – The man accused of murdering 14 schoolchildren in a tragic school transport crash may need a psychiatric evaluation before his trial can go ahead.
Ayanda Dludla appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court today.
During the hearing, his defence lawyer, Reward Nxumalo, raised concerns about his mental state and his ability to follow the legal proceedings and put forward a defence.
Nxumalo brought a Section 77 application to the court, stating that his client might not be mentally fit to take part meaningfully in the trial.
Following this request, the court asked for a preliminary report from a psychiatric expert to decide whether Dludla should be sent for a full mental evaluation.
The defence has until Thursday to prepare and hand in the report.
Speaking outside the court, Nxumalo said his client had already spoken with medical professionals, though the results of those visits remain unclear. He explained that he first grew concerned about Dludla’s condition during a consultation last week.
“My client is really struggling to explain several things or remember several things. We are sitting with pre-archive files that the State has disclosed with docket contents. We had to go through each page, and I realised there is a problem here, which is why I saw fit to deal with this issue,” he said.
Nxumalo added that if an expert found Dludla fit to stand trial, he would proceed with the defence his client had previously communicated to him.
The case follows a devastating crash on January 19 along the R553 Golden Highway, which resulted in the deaths of 14 schoolchildren. The 23-year-old was driving a scholar transport minibus carrying 17 learners when it collided head-on with an oncoming truck. Fourteen of the children died at the scene, while three others were injured.
Dludla currently faces 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He also faces extra charges for allegedly driving without a certificate of fitness, driving without a Professional Driving Permit, and operating an unlicensed vehicle.
The case will return to court on November 12.
