Courtroom twist: Vaal tragedy driver revokes bail in surprising move
DEADLY CRASH
Ayanda Dludla, the suspect in the deadly Vaal crash, has abandoned his bail application when he appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court. The matter has been postponed to 5 March 2026 for further proceedings.
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Newspapers
Ayanda Dludla, the suspect in the deadly Vaal crash, has abandoned his bail application when he appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court. The matter has been postponed to 5 March 2026 for further proceedings.
Police have confirmed that two more learners have succumbed to their injuries following the devastating scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark, pushing the death toll to 14 young lives lost earlier this week.
The 22-year-old Dludla is facing a string of serious charges stemming from the fatal Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash.
He has been charged with 14 counts of murder following the deaths of the learners, as well as three counts of attempted murder relating to those who survived with serious injuries and are still in hospital.
Ayanda Dludla, the suspect in the deadly Vaal crash, has abandoned his bail application when he appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court. The matter has been postponed to 5 March 2026 for further proceedings.
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Newspapers
In addition, Dludla is charged with one count of contravening the certificate of fitness requirements, operating an unlicensed motor vehicle, and driving without a valid permit, offences that have raised further concerns about compliance and safety within the scholar transport sector.
The driver made his first court appearance at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court later this morning.
The tragedy unfolded on Monday, 19 January, when an overloaded private scholar transport vehicle carrying learners collided head-on with a side-tipper truck along the R553 near Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal, Gauteng.
The violent impact left several learners dead at the scene, while others were rushed to nearby hospitals in critical condition. Since the crash, the Vaal community has been plunged into mourning.
Candlelight vigils have been held as grieving families, classmates, and teachers gather to honour the lives lost, lighting candles and laying flowers in heartbreaking scenes of collective sorrow.
As investigations continue, families are demanding accountability and stricter oversight of scholar transport services, hoping that justice will be served and that no other community will have to endure such devastating loss.