NEWS
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Sanele May not solely to blame says FEVER group, as expert reveals faults in truck April 11, 2014
hillcrest
CHRIS NDALISO THE Sanele May Support Group says that the truck driver should not be held solely responsible for the Field’s Hill accident that killed 24 people last year. The group’s lawyers submitted a forensic report in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court early last week that contradicts the position of Sagekal Logistics, May’s employers — that the truck was roadworthy at the time. After the submission was made to magistrate Siyabonga Mkhize and prosecutor Vikesh Sewnath, the matter was transferred to the Durban high court and May remained in custody. Later, May’s support group held a press conference at a Pinetown hotel, where Gauteng engine, gearbox, differential and compressor diagnostic expert Thomas Rootman presented the report of his investigation into
Sanele May at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. PHOTOS: CHRIS NDALISO & SUPPLIED
the truck’s wreckage. Rootman says he conducted the investigation for Sagekal Logistics last year.
Fever Attention all rural schools/schools with English as a second language Rural/previously disadvantaged schools are invited to enter their top two (2) English spellers from Grade 10 and Grade 11 (one from each grade) into the KZN Premier Spelling Bee Durban Central regional event, to be held in June/July 2014 (Date and venue to be confirmed, keep reading your local newspaper to find out the details!) Words to be learnt for the Durban Central Spelling Bee will be published in the 2 May 2014 edition of the Durban North Fever & Hillcrest Fever & Upper Coast Fever.
Prizes: Cash prizes, book hampers, stationery hampers, bursaries and goodie bags for the top spellers, schools and teachers! To enter: Complete the entry form found in this local newspaper and fax it to us at 0865344256, or email it to kznspellingbee@media24.com OR Send us the below information via email, kznspellingbee@media24.com OR fax, 0865344256.
“Sagekal Logistics’ attorney Theasen Pillay approached me in September 2013 to conduct the investigation. He specifically instructed me to report on the roadworthiness of the truck. “This was meant to take two days, but after day one, I had seen enough to conclude that the truck’s braking system was appalling. “When I reported back, Pillay said he was disappointed with my poor services. I have not been paid since,” he said. Rootman’s report reveals a number of faults in the brake shoe linings of both the horse and its trailer, which had existed before the accident. The left and right brake shoe linings of the horse were severely worn onto the securing rivets and the linings had started to break up in places. Severe dust build-up on these sections was evidence that the lining material had been destroyed long before the accident. Asked if May had, according to his investigation, engaged a lower gear, Rootman said the driver had not selected a low gear at a high speed. “The truck was in neutral when I inspected it,” he said. This contradicts the report of collision reconstruction expert Stan Bezuidenhout who said he found the truck in the fifth gear when he inspected it. Bezuidenhout had said there was no evidence suggesting the brake system was compromised prior to the accident, as new brake linings were fitted to the vehicle and it was tested before May left for Johannesburg. However, Rootman’s report indicates that the trailer’s braking system was also not in a
IS BACK!!! and the new home of
good condition. He said the brake linings of the right wheel on the front axle were worn out, while the linings on the left wheel were severely worn. Most of the lining material had come off from the brake shoe. He made similar findings on the trailer’s middle and rear axles. “Due to the condition of the brake systems, the driver would not have been able to sufficiently slow down the combination vehicle for the purpose of selecting a lower, appropriate gear for driving down a steep descent. It would be impossible for any driver to have executed proper or any control over the vehicle speed for the purpose of selecting a lower gear or to stop the vehicle,” he said. Pillay said Rootman’s services had been terminated a day after they were engaged. “A dispute immediately arose as to his fees, as he had failed to provide the scope of services specifically agreed upon. His report was received after the investigation had been conducted by our current expert. It is our view that Mr Rootman’s actions, in approaching Sanele May’s attorneys with his ‘report’, is a malicious and condemnable act,which may attract serious sanctions for him,” he said.
10111 call centre in the spotlight
* School name, school address, English teacher’s name and contact details, registration number of your school, district of your school * Full names of your two spellers * Both spellers’ ID numbers OR copy of birth certificate * Entries are limited per regional event * Get your entries in early to ensure your spot at the 2014 Durban Central Spelling Bee * Entries close on 13 June 2014
The left hand side brake shoe linings of the middle axle of the trailer were severely worn and cracked, and large sections (yellow arrow) of the lining material had been destroyed. From the remains of these linings, it is evi dent that these linings were severely worn, as a result of which large sections of the lining material had come off from the brake shoe. From the severe dust buildup on those sec tions of the brake shoe onto which the brake linings were glued and riveted, it is evident that the lining material had been destroyed long before the accident.
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Kloof resident Sam Shallcross also expressed her disappointment with the police emergency hot-line. Shallcross said she called 10111 on 22 March after an accident on the M13 and kept being transferred to different departments who cut her off. “Ihadtocalleighttimesbeforesomeoneassistedme.Thisisbecomingreallyfrustrating,” she added. Residents who raised the alarm claim that they cannot accept such pitiful service from the police emergency call centre and something drastic needs to be done about it. “We depend on the men in blue for assistance and if we cannot rely on them to serve and protect us, then who can we rely on?” added Shallcross. However provincial police spokesperson Thulani Zwane said that the department was unaware of such complaints and urged residents to direct all complaints to the call centre supervisor on 031 3323 744 with dates and times of the incidents. “Once we have the details of the complaints, the department heads will investigate. We assure the public that the National Call Centre helpline is here to assist the public,” he added.