CLOSURE has finally been brought to the families of 23 people who died almost three years ago in a bus accident while travelling from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape.
Sisa Nonama, 41, of Nkondlo near Ngcobo faced 23 counts of culpable homicide after the bus he was driving to Cape Town veered off the Hex River Pass on the N1 between De Doorns and Touwsrivier in the early hours of May 5 2010.
Nonama’s older brother and bus owner, Malinga Nonama, who was in the bus during the accident, had also been charged.
However, all charges against him were later withdrawn.
This week, the Ngcobo bus driver was convicted on 23 counts of culpable homicide and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, three years of which will be suspended for five years.
Nonama admitted he had driven the Nondoda Tours bus without the required driving licence and that he had operated the bus while the roadworthy certificate was not displayed.
He had been 20km/h over the speed limit and ignored signs for heavy vehicles to move to a lower gear.
Nonama had pleaded guilty and acknowledged responsibility.
The bus was certified to carry 64 passengers, but 76 passengers, including children, were on board during the tragedy.
Ngcobo mayor Lamla Jiyose yesterday said justice had been done and said it would serve as a deterrent to others driving unroadworthy vehicles, especially at this time of the year.
“Although no sentence would ever bring back those lives, which includes those of breadwinners, the finalisation of the case and the sentencing gives closure to those who lost their loved ones,” said Jiyose.
Ngcobo Long Distance Bus Association president Zamelekhaya Loqo said the case was like a dark cloud over the bus industry.
“As the bus sector, we accept the sentencing and hope it will serve as a lesson to all of us. The accident affected us all, it impacted negatively on us. Now we can breathe a sigh of relief.”
Traditional leader Zwelakhe Dalasile, a clan cousin of Nonama and who apologised to the families at the memorial service in Ngcobo on May 14 2010, yesterday again apologised and hoped the families of the victims would now find closure. —
Six years‘ jail for bus driver
Sisa Nonama, 41, of Nkondlo near Ngcobo faced 23 counts of culpable homicide after the bus he was driving to Cape Town veered off the Hex River Pass on the N1 between De Doorns and Touwsrivier in the early hours of May 5 2010.
Nonama’s older brother and bus owner, Malinga Nonama, who was in the bus during the accident, had also been charged.
However, all charges against him were later withdrawn.
This week, the Ngcobo bus driver was convicted on 23 counts of culpable homicide and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, three years of which will be suspended for five years.
Nonama admitted he had driven the Nondoda Tours bus without the required driving licence and that he had operated the bus while the roadworthy certificate was not displayed.
He had been 20km/h over the speed limit and ignored signs for heavy vehicles to move to a lower gear.
Nonama had pleaded guilty and acknowledged responsibility.
The bus was certified to carry 64 passengers, but 76 passengers, including children, were on board during the tragedy.
Ngcobo mayor Lamla Jiyose yesterday said justice had been done and said it would serve as a deterrent to others driving unroadworthy vehicles, especially at this time of the year.
“Although no sentence would ever bring back those lives, which includes those of breadwinners, the finalisation of the case and the sentencing gives closure to those who lost their loved ones,” said Jiyose.
Ngcobo Long Distance Bus Association president Zamelekhaya Loqo said the case was like a dark cloud over the bus industry.
“As the bus sector, we accept the sentencing and hope it will serve as a lesson to all of us. The accident affected us all, it impacted negatively on us. Now we can breathe a sigh of relief.”
Traditional leader Zwelakhe Dalasile, a clan cousin of Nonama and who apologised to the families at the memorial service in Ngcobo on May 14 2010, yesterday again apologised and hoped the families of the victims would now find closure. —
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