MEDIA STATEMENT

TRUCK DRIVER SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR 17 COUNTS OF CULPABLE HOMICIDE

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele has welcomed the decision by a Port Shepstone Magistrate to sentence a truck driver, who was found guilty of 17 counts of culpable homicide, to ten years imprisonment.

Mothibi Manase Thupaekae (27) from Kimberley was sentenced to ten years, of which four years were suspended, for the Ingeli Forest minibus taxi road tragedy that occurred on Saturday, 17 February 2001, at approximately 10h30 on the N2 between Harding and Kokstad. Regarded as one of the most horrific crashes, 17 people were killed instantly when the minibus taxi in which they were travelling was hit head on by a truck driven by Mr Thupaekae travelling in the opposite direction.

I wish to commend the presiding Magistrate, Miss Nonesi Dlamini, for handing down an appropriate sanction. I strongly encourage other members of the bench to follow this example so that the high number of road deaths can become a thing of the past.

"We hail this sentence as a victory for road safety. It will definitely send a clear message that the innocent loss of lives on our roads in KwaZulu-Natal will no longer be tolerated. This sentence will also serve as a deterrent to other homicidal drivers that the road is not a place to kill innocent lives. It is time that all road users learnt to treat each other with respect by obeying the rules of the road. I want to warn all road users that if you do not obey the rules of the road, you will pay the price," said MEC Ndebele.

"Since this crash occurred, we have not heard a word from the Directors of the company involved, not even a message of condolence to the families of the deceased. I am appealing to other transport companies to be more sensitive to the plight of the families of road crash victims in times like these," Mr Ndebele said.

"I also wish to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation to members of the SAPS, Road Traffic Inspectorate, SANDF, local traffic police, the local Council as well as other role players for their assistance from the gruesome process of identifying the deceased, assisting with the funeral arrangements, the investigation process, right up to the completion of the trial process," said MEC Ndebele.

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