Just days after a moving memorial service for the 11 learners who died in a horrific accident last week, Gert van Emmenis, 55, the motorist who allegedly collided with the scholar transport, was released on R20,000 bail.
The accident also resulted in the death of the scholar transport driver, who was the 12th victim of the tragedy.
Van Emmenis, who appeared briefly before the Fochville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, has been charged with 12 counts of culpable homicide and reckless or negligent driving. His matter has been postponed to October 15 for further investigation.
The one who drove a bakkie into a schoolar transport that killed 11 young black children.
He must be know. He was drunk with Klipdrift this murderer.😡😡 pic.twitter.com/qHPFZKn32Z— FighterGiveUsASignal (@athenkosi591) July 18, 2024
The Incident
Media reports indicate that last Wednesday morning, while the learners were on their way to Rockland Primary School and Laerskool Blyvooruitsig, their scholar transport minibus taxi was allegedly rear-ended by a Ford Ranger, driven by Van Emmenis.
The collision resulted in a catastrophic fire that claimed the lives of 11 learners and their driver, Nkosinathi Maphukade.
The victims of the accident include:
- Junior Mankofu, 13
- Katlego Morebudi, 12
- Olesego Khesa, 12
- Tshiamo Makinta, 9
- Thandeka Mtyibe, 9
- Lethabo Sesing, 9
- Reabetswe Rabodiba, 7
- Four children from the same family:
- Reneilwe Hlalele, 7
- Sihle Hlalele, 12
- Hlompho Hlalele, 10
- Thato Hlalele, 8
Court Proceedings
The State did not oppose Van Emmenis’s bail application but sought assurances that he would not interfere with witnesses or contact them.
Van Emmenis was ordered to hand over his passport and assured the court through his attorney that he did not know the witnesses.
In a statement, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said, “The Fochville Magistrate’s Court granted Gert Laurence van Emmenis, 55, bail of R20,000 on schedule 1 offence with conditions, that he should hand over his passport to the investigating officer and that he should not interfere directly or indirectly with witnesses.”
According to the NPA and the police, on July 10, Van Emmenis was driving a Ford Ranger motor vehicle on JB Marx Road in Fochville when he collided with the minibus taxi transporting the school children.
Identification of Victims
On Tuesday, the MEC of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Education, Matome Chiloane, revealed that the remains of the 11 children had been matched to their respective families through DNA tests.
“The families were able to identify the bodies of their children and now know which child is which, but now they can’t proceed because the process is still continuing,” he said.
The case continues to develop, with the next court date set for October 15.