Cabinet sends condolences to crash victims' families

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi on Thursday said: "Cabinet noted the Presidential message conveyed to affected families after this tragedy occurred. It further sends its condolences to families and all those who lost their loved ones during this tragedy."

The truck driver, who has been charged with the deaths of 25 Mpumalanga farmworkers, was not asked to plead to culpable homicide, when he appeared in the Malalane Periodical Court on Monday.

George Mandlazi, 32, was driving the truck when it collided with a coal train between Hectorspruit and Malalane on Friday morning. He was arrested after being discharged from Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela that evening.

His charges were reduced from murder to culpable homicide when he appeared in court, but murder charges were reinstated again when Mandlazi was denied bail on Tuesday.

The Road Accident Fund has also undertaken to help bury the victims.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday while a mass funeral service will take place at KaMhlushwa stadium on Saturday.

The trust account for those who wish to make donations is: Bereavement Fund, ABSA branch code 632005, account number: 4078501159.