Bus driver jailed for culpable homicide

A 44-year-old bus driver who was involved in an accident in which five people were killed, has been sentenced to 12 months in jail and banned from driving for two years.

Dumisani Moyo of 10729 Nkulumane in Bulawayo was convicted on his own plea of guilty to culpable homicide by Plumtree magistrate Mr Livard Philemon.

Three months of his sentence were suspended on condition that he does not within five years commit an offence of the same nature.

He was also banned from driving for two years and had his licence cancelled as part of the sentence.

The prosecutor, Mr Medica Tshuma, said on 25 October last year, Moyo was driving a bus with 31 passengers.

The court heard that Moyo was speeding and on approaching the 85km peg along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road the left rear tyre burst and he lost control of the vehicle.

The bus then veered off the road, overturned and rolled several times killing five passengers on the spot.
Those killed were Mr Dumisani Mpala, Mr Paida Ncube, Mr Butshilo Ndlovu,  Mr Johny Fuyane Tshuma and Mr Mkhululi Dube.

A total of 13 other passengers were injured and  rushed to Plumtree District Hospital for treatment.