The driver of a municipal waste removal truck that killed two of his colleagues and injured several others when it overturned blamed the vehicle's faulty brakes for the crash.
Banele Dumela also refuted accusations by eyewitnesses that he was speeding and could have been drunk.
His 10-ton truck overturned on its side on Soutpansberg Road in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday. The truck left several skid marks on the bending road before it rolled to its side, leaving two people dead and seven others injured.
Dumela's co-workers Simukelo Mdladla and Kenneth Shabangu died at the scene.
Although investigations into the cause of the accident were continuing, witnesses said alcohol could have been involved.
Sergeant Barbara Ferreira, the sector manager at Norkem Park police station, suspected speeding because of the skid marks.
This was supported by Dumela's colleague Thembekile James, who said had the driver been driving within the legal speed limit he would have been able to avoid the small vehicle that blocked his way.
The speed limit on Soutpansberg Road is 60km/h.
"I admit there was speeding involved. He tried to avoid crashing another car, but it was too late," said James, who is currently recovering at Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park.
However, Dumela rejected these claims.
"I was not speeding. I was driving between 50-55km/h down the hill. A car came from the left lane to join our lane. It then suddenly stopped in front of me.
"I slammed the brakes hard, but somehow they were jammed. I got shocked.
"I looked at the pedals while the truck was still in motion," Dumela explained.
"A passenger next to me shouted that I was veering off the road. I passed the small car and tried to avoid the perimeter wall and that's when the truck overturned.
"I'm still traumatised about it because I lost people that I work with and who were close to me. I do drink alcohol, but none of us drank that day."
Vhayi Nkuna, the father of Esphac Nkuna, who had a leg amputated when the truck fell on him, said his son would need intense counselling to cope with his disability.
"I'm scared of what this would mean to him. He has been in ICU since the accident and is in [an] induced coma. He doesn't know what has befallen him."
Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina visited the injured and grieving families yesterday to offer support. Masina said it was too early to speculate about the cause of the accident.
"Investigations are still on. I'm not the mayor of rumours so let us all wait for the accident report and then act accordingly," Masina said.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
Driver blames brakes after crash kills two
The driver of a municipal waste removal truck that killed two of his colleagues and injured several others when it overturned blamed the vehicle's faulty brakes for the crash.
Banele Dumela also refuted accusations by eyewitnesses that he was speeding and could have been drunk.
His 10-ton truck overturned on its side on Soutpansberg Road in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday. The truck left several skid marks on the bending road before it rolled to its side, leaving two people dead and seven others injured.
Dumela's co-workers Simukelo Mdladla and Kenneth Shabangu died at the scene.
Although investigations into the cause of the accident were continuing, witnesses said alcohol could have been involved.
Sergeant Barbara Ferreira, the sector manager at Norkem Park police station, suspected speeding because of the skid marks.
This was supported by Dumela's colleague Thembekile James, who said had the driver been driving within the legal speed limit he would have been able to avoid the small vehicle that blocked his way.
The speed limit on Soutpansberg Road is 60km/h.
"I admit there was speeding involved. He tried to avoid crashing another car, but it was too late," said James, who is currently recovering at Arwyp Medical Centre in Kempton Park.
However, Dumela rejected these claims.
"I was not speeding. I was driving between 50-55km/h down the hill. A car came from the left lane to join our lane. It then suddenly stopped in front of me.
"I slammed the brakes hard, but somehow they were jammed. I got shocked.
"I looked at the pedals while the truck was still in motion," Dumela explained.
"A passenger next to me shouted that I was veering off the road. I passed the small car and tried to avoid the perimeter wall and that's when the truck overturned.
"I'm still traumatised about it because I lost people that I work with and who were close to me. I do drink alcohol, but none of us drank that day."
Vhayi Nkuna, the father of Esphac Nkuna, who had a leg amputated when the truck fell on him, said his son would need intense counselling to cope with his disability.
"I'm scared of what this would mean to him. He has been in ICU since the accident and is in [an] induced coma. He doesn't know what has befallen him."
Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina visited the injured and grieving families yesterday to offer support. Masina said it was too early to speculate about the cause of the accident.
"Investigations are still on. I'm not the mayor of rumours so let us all wait for the accident report and then act accordingly," Masina said.
sifilel@sowetan.co.za
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