Scholar transport driver Ayanda Dludla has been granted R3,000 bail by the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court, more than seven months after the crash that claimed the lives of 14 learners.
Dludla, 23, is facing 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder following the collision on the R553 Golden Highway in Vanderbijlpark on 19 January 2026.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said Dludla was transporting 17 learners when the minibus allegedly collided head-on with a side-tipper truck. Eleven learners died at the scene, while three others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. Three learners survived the crash with injuries.
The case has drawn intense public attention, particularly because it happened just days after schools reopened for the new academic year and raised renewed concerns about the safety and regulation of scholar transport.
Why the court granted bail
The State opposed Dludla’s release, arguing that it would not be in the interests of justice. Prosecutors also raised concerns about the intense public anger surrounding the deaths and argued that Dludla’s safety could be at risk if he was released.
Dludla’s defence, however, brought a fresh bail application based on new facts after he had abandoned an earlier bail bid shortly after his arrest.
His lawyers argued that he was not a flight risk and would comply with conditions imposed by the court.
The court ultimately found that it was in the interests of justice to release him on bail.
Importantly, bail does not mean Dludla has been acquitted or found not guilty. It simply allows an accused person to remain out of custody while the criminal case proceeds.
In a development that has drawn particular attention, the defence also argued that Dludla is a “slow learner” and may have an inherent difficulty foreseeing risk. This argument was accepted as part of the defence case in the bail proceedings.
However, this is not a finding that Dludla is innocent of the charges against him. The allegations against him will still have to be tested during the criminal trial.
Strict conditions imposed on Dludla
Although the court granted bail, it imposed several restrictions on the accused.
According to NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, Dludla must report to the Vanderbijlpark police station every Friday.
He has also been prohibited from driving any motor vehicle until the case has been finalised.
Dludla must live at his mother’s residence unless the investigating officer authorises him to stay elsewhere, and he has been warned not to interfere with witnesses.
The court also imposed a specific condition regarding contact with the families of the deceased learners.
If Dludla wants to apologise to the families, he may only do so through the investigating officer.
The conditions are significant given the anger and grief that have surrounded the case since the January crash.
Serious charges still before court
Dludla remains accused of 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
He also faces charges relating to road traffic violations, including operating a motor vehicle without a certificate of fitness, driving without a professional driving permit and operating an unlicensed vehicle.
Earlier proceedings also saw allegations raised about the circumstances surrounding the crash, including claims that Dludla had been attempting to overtake before the collision. Those allegations will ultimately have to be tested against the evidence presented at trial.
The case is therefore far from over.
Trial set for November
The court has postponed the matter for trial from 9 to 17 November 2026.
The trial is expected to examine the circumstances leading up to the collision, the condition and licensing of the scholar transport vehicle, Dludla’s driving and the evidence supporting the murder and attempted murder charges.
For the families of the 14 learners, the bail decision does not bring an end to the search for accountability.
Instead, the focus now shifts to the trial, where the State will have to prove its case and Dludla will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations against him.
Until the court reaches a verdict, Dludla remains an accused person and is presumed innocent in law.
