By Mandla Khoza
Komatipoort - The families of 24 farmworkers, who were killed when a coal train collided with their truck in Mpumalanga last year, will receive a share of R500 000 next month.
This follows a pledge from Transnet Freight Rail to pay the survivors and the families of the deceased.
“Arrangements are underway to distribute the R500 000 to all individuals who were affected by this accident. This will be done in the month of September 2013," said Transnet Freight Rail spokesperson Mike Asefovitz.
"The money will be distributed directly from Transnet Freight Rail to individual bank accounts. Documents of the victims, including banking details, have been collated and arrangements to disburse are underway.”
The collision happened at a railway crossing between Hectorspruit and Malalane on July 13, 2013. The farmworkers were on their way to harvest oranges.
Asefovitz said Transnet's investigations found no fault with the train driver, but concluded that the truck driver had failed to stop at the crossing.
The driver, George Mandlazi, 33, was initially charged with culpable homicide but the charges were converted to 24 counts of murder after a preliminary investigation.
Mandlazi, who is facing a total of 51 charges, including 24 of murder, 26 of attempted murder and negligence and reckless driving, is out on R300 bail.
His trial is expected to run between November 4 and 15. – SAnews.gov.za
