Crash driver in Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court

The man accused of being responsible for the deaths of five Mitchell’s Plain primary school pupils during a vehicle accident in AZ Berman Drive last week is due to apply for bail.

Mninikhay Mvuli, 56, from Khayelitsha, who faces five charges of culpable homicide, appeared in Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Monday June 5.

He was arrested on Tuesday May 30, hours after the accident scene was cleared in AZ Berman Drive, opposite the Liberty Promenade mall (“Five pupils killed in crash”, Plainsman, May 31).

Mr Mvuli first appeared in Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on Thursday June 1 and the matter was postponed to Monday June 5 for a possible bail application.

Advocate Abel Phomolo Tloti came on record for the accused who is still in custody and is due back in court on Thursday June 15.

According to the charge sheet alternate charges include reckless or negligent driving, which occurs when a driver operates a motor vehicle in a deliberate or wanton manner, endangering other people or property; and inconsiderate driving in relation to the National Road Traffic Act.

Last week Education MEC David Maynier confirmed that the pupils, from Wespoort, Harvester, Ridgeville, Highlands and Duneside primary schools died.

A Lentegeur High School pupil and a Ridgeville Primary School pupil were in hospital.

On Monday June 5 Alaric Jacobs, spokesman for Groote Schuur Hospital, confirmed that a patient was in a critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Mark van der Heever, deputy communications director of the provincial health department, said that only one patient was admitted to the state hospital last week.