An East London man who caused the death of six children when he lost control of a bakkie has been sent to prison for seven years, the Dispatch Online reported on Thursday.
It said East London Regional Court magistrate Fungile Dotwana handed down the sentence on Wednesday.
Thembelani Tom (27) was driving without a licence when transporting the six children to school on the back of the bakkie in 2004. They died when the vehicle spun out of control going at 120kph on the N2 near Amalinda.
Dotwana treated six counts of culpable homicide against Tom as one and sentenced him to nine years’ imprisonment, of which three were suspended for five years.
Two other counts — one of driving without a valid driver’s licence and one of transporting passengers in a vehicle without a permit — were also treated as one and for this Tom was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. The sentences will not run concurrently.
Dotwana said he ”appreciated” that Tom had not wasted the court’s time and had pleaded guilty — a plea the magistrate described as ”true and honest”.
Although a ”sincerely remorseful” Tom apologised to the victims’ families, Dotwana said he still had to consider the enormous impact of the tragic accident.
The interest of the bereaved families and the survivors by far outweighed Tom’s personal circumstances, he said.
”Six young lives were lost. Their future and possible careers just came to an end. They met their untimely death because of your negligence,” said Dotwana.
Eastern Cape roads and transport minister Thobile Mhlahlo said he was unhappy with ”inconsistencies” in the judgement.
”Six children died and he drove without a licence … inconsistency is a concern to me — [but] I am not entitled to question the judiciary,” Mhlahlo said.
The six victims were Chulumanco Goodwin, Lutho Tsipa-Sokweni, Nolutho Mavuso, Siviwe Maneli, Khanyisa Ngcelwane and Sinako Sodlula.
Another nine children were seriously injured, including Sinako’s twin sister, Sinazo, who lost her left arm. — Sapa