Families React as Vaal Scholar Transport Driver Ayanda Dludla Granted Bail

• Ayanda Dludla, 23, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court after a minibus crash on the R553 Golden Highway killed 14 learners in January
• The court granted Dludla R3 000 bail despite him facing 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder
• Families of the victims, including a mother who lost her seven-year-old son, say they live in the same community as the accused

GAUTENG — Families of the 14 learners killed in a fatal scholar transport crash in the Vaal are facing fresh distress after the driver charged with their children's deaths was released on bail.

According to SABC News, the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court granted Ayanda Dludla, 23, bail of R3 000. He is facing 17 counts in total, including 14 murder counts and three attempted murder counts. The charges stem from a collision on 19 January near ArcelorMittal in Vanderbijlpark, where a minibus taxi carrying school children struck a side-tipper truck. Fourteen learners died, and three others sustained injuries.

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Families fear daily contact with the accused

The bail decision has deepened the anguish of the bereaved families, many of whom share the same community as Dludla. Innocentia Binger, whose seven-year-old son Tshepo was among the children killed, described the psychological toll of living in proximity to the accused. Binger added that the family was still struggling to come to terms with Dludla's release because they're all members of the same community. She added that 80% of the parents whose children die would still see the suspect walking about freely.

Bail granted pending further investigation

The magistrate ruled that Dludla met the statutory requirements for bail and postponed the case to allow for further police investigation. The court's decision is expected to heighten community tensions in the area. The January crash had already drawn significant public attention to the safety of school transport across Gauteng, with calls for stricter regulation and oversight of vehicles used to ferry schoolchildren.

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Stuart Scharnik granted bail

In a related article, Briefly News reported on Stuart Scharnick, who was granted R5,000 bail in a Gauteng firearms case. The businessman, an associate of suspended Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, faces three charges under the Firearms Control Act.

Source: Briefly News