Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A MAN who was driving an Intercape bus when it overturned in South Africa killing nine people recently and was arrested while attempting to flee from the neighbouring country through Beitbridge Border Post, was on Wednesday denied bail at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.
George Themba (41) of Harare was arrested while trying to skip the border hidden under luggage in a trailer of another cross border bus on Monday morning.
Themba is facing nine counts of culpable homicide and another of reckless driving after he lost control of the bus which was travelling to Johannesburg from Harare on Friday last week.
Nine Zimbabweans, among them a toddler, died on the spot.
Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, said Themba was remanded in custody to October 2 pending further investigations.
“The arrested suspect in this matter , George Themba aged 41 who is a resident of Harare in Zimbabwe, has made his first appearance today (yesterday) before the Polokwane Magistrate Court on the following charges : nine counts of culpable homicide and reckless and/or negligent driving,” he said.
“He was denied bail and his cases were postponed to the 2nd October 2018 for further police investigations. This appearance follows his arrest for a horrific accident where he later tried to cross the border to Zimbabwe after he was taken to hospital with 51 injured passengers for medical treatment.
“As the process of intensive investigations by the police was unfolding, especially on the possible cause of that accident, he disappeared following his discharge from hospital and fled towards the Beit Bridge port of entry.
“The police were tipped-off, they swiftly responded and subsequently, the driver was caught hidden inside the goods trailer trying to illegally cross the border to Zimbabwe.”
Col Ngoepe said charges were that nine passengers lost their lives during a bus crash which occurred along the N1 South road in the early hours of Friday last week.
“The bus was carrying 61 occupants including the driver and the crew, nine out of 61 were certified dead at the scene, and the other injured people including the driver were taken to different hospitals for medical treatment.
“The identification process of all the deceased is still unfolding. The police investigations are continuing,” he said.
Zimbabwe Consul General to South Africa Mr Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro said the embassy was finalising the identification processes pending repatriation of the deceased’s remains.
He said seven people were still admitted to Polokwane Hospital where one person was in the Intensive Care Unit.
Online Reporter