Kokstad taxi driver charged with ten counts of murder

MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Willies Mchunu has welcomed the decision made by the NPA regarding the Kokstad accident that claimed ten people including a three year old boy between Kokstad and Swartburg on the R617 recently on 6 August 2011. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has charged the taxi driver with ten counts of murder.

The accident happened in the morning of Saturday, 6 August 2011 between Franklin and Swartberg, and involved a Toyota Quantum and a bus. It is alleged that the taxi driver was trying to make a u-turn when the two vehicles collided, killing nine people instantly. The 10th person died on her way to hospital. Mr Themba Mazibuko (45) appeared in court yesterday after being discharged from hospital. He was charged with ten counts of murder and his case was remanded for Tuesday, 23 August 2011 at Kokstad Magistrate Court.

“I would like to welcome the decision made by the NPA in charging the driver with murder. This move by the NPA is inline with the Departments Road Safety Summit resolution, earlier this year, of tightening the law when it comes to people who do not adhere to the rules of the road ending up killing innocent people. I hope this will send a serious warning to all road users who break the rules of the road as this decision is the first of its kind.

I am proud that our courts are now heeding to our call of taking these killings serious. We will also like to mobilise all KwaZulu-Natal citizens, Kokstad community including the families of the deceased , all road safety structures including interfaith to avail themselves at the Kokstad magistrate court next Tuesday, to emphasise that, this will not be taken lightly and to show that we support the NPA decision.”

“As government we must ensure that breaking traffic laws is a big deal. Drivers must be made to worry about their erratic driving behaviour more than they do now. If we have a law that allows a motorist whose failure to obey traffic rules, and his/her vehicle kills an innocent person, but such a driver is charged for culpable homicide and not murder or is given a fine only – then we need to relook at such a law. We refuse to allow lawlessness to continue to rob people of their lives and cost our economy dearly.”

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