The family of 17-year-old Puleng Maphalla, one of the 14 learners who lost their lives in Monday’s devastating scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark, has welcomed the decision to upgrade charges against the driver involved.
WATCH | Video footage of horror scholar crash emerges – GRAPHIC CONTENT
Scholar transport driver Ayanda Dludla was initially charged with culpable homicide following the collision.
However, the charges have since been amended, and he now faces 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, as well as a charge of driving with an expired permit.
The matter has been postponed to Thursday, 5 March for further investigations.
Honour the young lives lost
Maphalla’s cousin, Ntsebela, was speaking during a memorial service held for the deceased learners in Sebokeng, where families, friends and community members gathered to honour the young lives lost.
Ntsebela said the family believes the amended charges better reflect the gravity of what happened.
“The most beautiful gift that Puleng has left us as a family is her TikTok page, because now we can see her in her element, laughing and dancing,” she said.
“As tragic as her passing is, I think the most important thing we can do as families is remember the joy that these children were to us.”
She added that the family had always felt the incident went beyond culpable homicide.
“I think the first interview that my uncle had, he said this is an outright murder and it can never be a case of culpable homicide. We are happy the court is in agreement with that, and we hope that justice will prevail, whatever form that it can.”
‘Biggest tragedy’
Despite welcoming the legal developments, Ntsebela acknowledged that no court outcome could undo the loss.
“The biggest tragedy is that we will never get our children back,” she said.
The crash, which occurred on Monday, has sent shockwaves through communities in the Vaal, reigniting national concerns about the safety, regulation and oversight of scholar transport services.
