Vaal crash driver Ayanda Dludla to apply for bail

By Charmaine Ndlela

The driver accused of causing the crash that killed 14 schoolchildren in the Vaal in January is to apply for bail, the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court has heard.

Ayanda Dludla, 22, had previously told the court that he had chosen to remain in custody while investigations continued.

Dludla faces 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the 19 January crash on the R553 near Vanderbijlpark.

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The scholar transport minibus he was driving, carrying 16 pupils, collided with a truck, killing 12 children at the scene, while two others later died in hospital.

The state has also charged Dludla with several transport-related offences, including allegedly driving without a valid professional driving permit (PDP) and operating an unlicensed vehicle.

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His lawyer, Reward Nxumalo,