TEARS were shed and flowers laid at the scene where five runners were mowed down by an allegedly drunk driver at the weekend.
By late yesterday, after Sibusiso Langa had appeared in court on five charges of murder, friends and family of the four women and one man killed visited the crash site in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, in memory of their loved ones.
"I walked around, trying to make sense of the accident, prayed and then laid a bunch of yellow roses. I am angry, what happened was so horrible and I wish someone could give me appropriate answers," said a friend of one of the runners who asked to be identified only as Zama.
The Vodacom Striders Running Club will hold a slow-paced memorial run this evening followed by a moment's silence at the crash scene in honour of those who died.
Geo Tlale, affectionately known as Isaac, was a member of the club and was killed in the crash while Khanyisa Stengile was seriously injured when the silver Mercedes-Benz ML 500 rammed into them.
The other runners, Moroese Mokoatsi, Reneilwe Lesenyeho, Given Mills and Nomvula Dumako, died at the scene. They belonged to the Midrand Striders and Goldfields Athletics Club.
Yesterday, the driver, 44-year-old mechanical engineer Langa, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
He was not asked to plead to five counts of murder, one of attempted murder and another of drunk driving.
Langa, wearing a black suit with white stripes and a white shirt, stood quietly in the dock, holding a plastic packet stuffed with clothes.
Magistrate Maryke de la Rey explained to him that if he was convicted, he would face a minimum sentence of 15 years for each count, provided he was a first-time offender. Three of Dumako and Mokoatsi's friends attended the proceedings.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said they charged Langa with murder as they believe there was an element of intent to the crime.
"If we are convinced that there were elements of intention and we can prove it was murder, we charge him with murder," he said.
Langa, who remains in custody, is expected to apply for bail on Friday.
Meanwhile, Stengile is recovering from successful surgery and has been moved out of critical care.
Tears and flowers for five dead marathon runners
TEARS were shed and flowers laid at the scene where five runners were mowed down by an allegedly drunk driver at the weekend.
By late yesterday, after Sibusiso Langa had appeared in court on five charges of murder, friends and family of the four women and one man killed visited the crash site in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, in memory of their loved ones.
"I walked around, trying to make sense of the accident, prayed and then laid a bunch of yellow roses. I am angry, what happened was so horrible and I wish someone could give me appropriate answers," said a friend of one of the runners who asked to be identified only as Zama.
The Vodacom Striders Running Club will hold a slow-paced memorial run this evening followed by a moment's silence at the crash scene in honour of those who died.
Geo Tlale, affectionately known as Isaac, was a member of the club and was killed in the crash while Khanyisa Stengile was seriously injured when the silver Mercedes-Benz ML 500 rammed into them.
The other runners, Moroese Mokoatsi, Reneilwe Lesenyeho, Given Mills and Nomvula Dumako, died at the scene. They belonged to the Midrand Striders and Goldfields Athletics Club.
Yesterday, the driver, 44-year-old mechanical engineer Langa, appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.
He was not asked to plead to five counts of murder, one of attempted murder and another of drunk driving.
Langa, wearing a black suit with white stripes and a white shirt, stood quietly in the dock, holding a plastic packet stuffed with clothes.
Magistrate Maryke de la Rey explained to him that if he was convicted, he would face a minimum sentence of 15 years for each count, provided he was a first-time offender. Three of Dumako and Mokoatsi's friends attended the proceedings.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said they charged Langa with murder as they believe there was an element of intent to the crime.
"If we are convinced that there were elements of intention and we can prove it was murder, we charge him with murder," he said.
Langa, who remains in custody, is expected to apply for bail on Friday.
Meanwhile, Stengile is recovering from successful surgery and has been moved out of critical care.
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