Zuma son responsible for accident

12 December 2014 - 02:14 By Penelope Mashego
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The negligence of Duduzane Zuma, son of President Jacob Zuma, was responsible for the death of minibus taxi passenger Phumzile Dube.

NO PROOF: Duduzane Zuma outside the Randburg Magistrate's Court yesterday during an inquest into the death of Phumzile Ncube, who died after his Porsche hit the taxi she was in
NO PROOF: Duduzane Zuma outside the Randburg Magistrate's Court yesterday during an inquest into the death of Phumzile Ncube, who died after his Porsche hit the taxi she was in
Image: ANTONIO MUCHAVE

This was the finding of the Randburg Magistrate's Court yesterday at the end of an inquest into the death of Dube, 30, in an accident in February this year.

"The court finds that the death of Phumzile Dube was the result of negligent driving by suspect 2 [Duduzane Zuma]," magistrate Lalita Chetty said.

"He failed to conduct himself in a reasonable manner ... considering the adverse weather conditions. His defence of aquaplaning is rejected," she said.

Dube died on the scene after Zuma's silver Porsche 911 Turbo collided with the taxi in which she was travelling on the M1 South highway in Johannesburg. It was raining. The inquest was to determine whether Zuma, 32, or taxi driver Jabulani Dlamini, 30, was responsible for the accident.

Zuma had told the court that he lost control of his car when it hit a puddle. Chetty's ruling means Zuma could to be charged with culpable homicide.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Nathi Mncube said the authority would examine all the evidence before deciding whether to prosecute Zuma. He said this could take three or four months.

Zuma refused to comment.

Dube's brother, Albert Dube, 41, said: "Now that I know what happened to my sister, we [the family] can continue with our lives."

Dube said he had no ill feelings towards Zuma. The Dube family's lawyer, David Maree, said the family will lodge a claim with the Road Accident Fund.

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