The driver of the minibus taxi that collided with a side-tipper truck on the R553 in Vanderbijlpark earlier this year made another brief appearance in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court on Wednesday morning.
Ayanda Dludla, 22, is facing 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder, among other charges, following the deadly scholar transport crash.
Dludla has made several court appearances as the matter continues to face delays, particularly around his expected bail application.
During Wednesday’s brief proceedings, the court heard that the docket is still with the Director of Public Prosecutions, and that a decision on certain aspects raised during the previous appearance has not yet been finalised.
The State explained that the docket still needs to be collected before the formal hearing and bail application can proceed. This means the matter will again be postponed until the State has the docket.
Dludla’s legal representative, Advocate Nxumalo, placed on record that the parties had agreed that the bail proceedings would fall under Schedule 5.
“I would like to place on record that we have agreed on the schedule, to say that the bail schedule will be Schedule 5 and the bail will proceed per charge currently on 18 June 2026,” Advocate Nxumalo said.
The repeated postponements have left the parents of the 14 learners frustrated and disappointed. Some parents expressed anger over how the matter is being handled, saying they want justice for their children.
One parent could not hold back tears after the adjournment, while others continued to voice their frustration outside the court.
The matter has been postponed to 18 June 2026 for a formal hearing involving the investigating officer and for the bail application to proceed.
Dludla will remain in custody until his next court appearance.