Sibusiso Siyaya received more than 20 years’ imprisonment for his role in the 2022 Pongolo truck crash that resulted in the deaths of 21 people.
Sibusiso Siyaya sentenced for 2022 Pongolo truck crash
On Thursday, 16 May 2024, the Pongolo Magistrate Court sentenced Sibusiso Siyaya to 23 years in prison for causing a tragic accident that claimed the lives of 21 individuals, including 19 schoolchildren and one assistant teacher.
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport welcomed the sentencing, viewing it as a significant deterrent to reckless driving.
“As government we welcome this historic judgement,” the department noted.
Siyaya faced multiple charges, including reckless and negligent driving, failure to report an accident, and 20 counts of murder.
The court handed down a cumulative sentence of 23 years: three years for reckless and negligent driving, six years for failing to report the accident and assist the victims, and 14 years for the murder charges.
Counts one and two will run concurrently, resulting in an effective 20-year sentence. Additionally, Siyaya’s driver’s license was revoked.
How Siyaya’s reckless driving killed 21 people
The horrific accident occurred on 16 September 2022, in the Godlwayo area when Siyaya’s truck collided head-on with a bakkie transporting learners from various schools.
An investigation by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), led by then-Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, found that Siyaya was overtaking multiple vehicles in a no-overtaking zone.
He continued driving on the oncoming lane for approximately 1.2 kilometres, forcing other vehicles to swerve out of his way.
The report indicated that Siyaya’s reckless driving and failure to return to his correct lane were the primary causes of the accident.
After the collision, Siyaya fled the scene but later surrendered to the police.
The court proceedings, which included testimony from various witnesses and forensic experts, clearly established his responsibility for the crash.
“We hope that this judgement will serve as a harsh lesson to other reckless drivers on the roads. We also believe that through this judgement that the victims’ families will find closure knowing that the person responsible for the calamity that robbed them of their loved ones has been sent to jail,” the department added.