Ayanda “Biggie” Dludla, the 22-year-old driver of the scholar transport minibus, appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court today. Dludla was behind the wheel when the vehicle collided with a truck on Monday, resulting in the deaths of 14 schoolchildren. He faces 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and charges of reckless and negligent driving, among others.
Dludla abandoned his bail application during the court appearance, and his case has been postponed to 5 March 2026 for further investigation. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has upgraded the initial culpable homicide charges to murder based on prima facie evidence.
The crash occurred on the R553 Golden Highway, and investigations are ongoing. The NPA’s Lumka Mahanjana stated that the evidence suggests intention, leading to the murder charges. Dludla’s driving permit had expired a year ago, and he was operating an unlicensed vehicle
