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CARNAGE: Matrons attend to patients at Shongwe Hospital in Mpumalanga after several people were killed and many more injured when a train hit the truck carrying farmworkers on a railway paralell to the N4 Higway between Komatipoort and Malelane, Mpumalanga, on Friday. Photo: KEVIN SUTHERLAND

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• Truck driver arrested over crash with train

Thabethe, 23, is among the 26 people who died when a goods train hit a truck at a level crossing in Hectorspruit near Malelane, Mpumalanga, on Friday morning.

"I am still shocked. I cannot believe that he is gone," Thabethe's mother Lindiwe Shongwe said.

"We looked up to him. He was the only person who had a job in the house. I do not know what I am going to do," she said.

Shongwe said she was told by her son's co-workers about the accident.

"My other children are still at school. His father is also struggling to get a job," Shongwe said.

The driver of the truck is believed to have failed to stop at a level crossing on the N4. There were about 44 passengers in the truck.

The 32-year-old man has been arrested and will appear in the Tonga Magistrate's Court today (Monday) on charges of murder, reckless and negligent driving.

Mpumalanga department of community safety, security and liaison spokesman Moeti Mmusi said police were also investigating allegations that the truck driver was unlicensed.

The department's MEC, Vusi Shongwe, said both the train and truck would be inspected to see if they were fit to carry goods and people.

After the collision the train, which was carrying coal from Witbank to Maputo, dragged the truck for about 200 metres, leaving bodies with missing limbs scattered over the area.

Obet Mathebula, whose nephew Lucky Shambo also died in the accident, said the family was still trying to come to terms with their loss.

"My nephew started working on the farm this month. His mother is so shattered she cannot even speak," Mathebula said.

President Jacob Zuma, Public Enterprise Minister Malusi Gigaba, the DA and Cosatu said they were shocked by the accident.

Said Zuma: "... we reiterate that it is important for drivers to exercise maximum caution at all times, especially when transporting passengers..." - mashabas@sowetan.co.za

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Sat May 18 12:52:56 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 16, 2012

Mdala

Jail this mampara driver and throw away the key for good.
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Jul 16, 2012

TBGOLE

Both the driver and the owner of the truck should be jailed. How can the owner asked unlicensed driver to transport workers? The Owner should provide for the deseased family or hire them. This is so heartbreaking. *teardrop*
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Jul 16, 2012

Doculam

@Mdala: "Jail this mampara driver and throw away the key for good."
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For sure! And Flemza as well for one track mindedness, selective observation of whats going on around him and having the "helpless victim" attitude for life!
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Jul 16, 2012

MGEEZ

What a tragic loss; may their souls rest in peace.
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Jul 16, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

Flemza - You wanna blame the farmer? For the driver not looking left and right and trying to beat the train? Get real dude. Your inhate irrational hatred and racism is showing.
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Jul 16, 2012

hulas

Among the victims there is 23 a year old Mxolisi.But why would a young man work on a farm.
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Jul 16, 2012

Mara_Y

President was shocked by the manner in which workers are transported to work place at this age in time. We were sold voetstoots by the Old man n the package is still wrapped and sealed.

Nothing should shocked anyone.
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Jul 16, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

Mara_Y - Surprised the president isnt shocked by the state of taxis and busses in South Africa. Converted panelvans used as taxi's.
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Jul 16, 2012

Flemza

@ WakeUpSouthAfrica
Flemza - You wanna blame the farmer? For the driver not looking left and right and trying to beat the train? Get real dude. Your inhate irrational hatred and racism is showing.
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This is not about racsim from me its about reality , Black African lifes have been lost here , and yet the farmer is nowring in his bed , why didn`t the farmer is he was not rascist organise proper transport for his workers , would like to go to work in the back of a goods designed to carry truck , would u , just think of it for a second , is that treating people as human beings or as goods , now u tell me WakeUpSouthAfrica , transporting felolw human beings in that truck is it not racism
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Jul 16, 2012

WakeUpSouthAfrica

Flemza - Yeah, its about racism. Yours.

Lemme guess, the farmer had to buy a bus just for transportation? The workers had to walk all the way to the farm and back every day?

Meanwhile, flatbed panels are being converted into taxis, and you are very quiet in the issue. These racist taxi drivers who transport people in panelvans.

Get real dude.
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