Death-smash truck driver 'has SA link'

Sanele Goodness May's hopes for getting bail before Christmas depend on a claim that his father is South African.

May, a Swazi, is charged with 24 counts of murder after the 40t 18-wheeler truck he was driving crashed into four taxis and two cars in September in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal.

His lawyer, Lindokuhle Mdletshe, said yesterday that members of May's family had told him that his client's father had been born in South Africa.

"I am investigating this and am also putting together affidavits to bring a new bail application based on the new facts," Mdletshe said.

He said that May "knew nothing about his father".

Mdletshe said that if May's father was a South African he could challenge the Pinetown Magistrate's Court's denial of bail for his client last month.

Magistrate Wendolyn Robinson said May had no assets, job or ties to South Africa and that his illegal movements between Swaziland and South Africa did not count in his favour.

"This is not an ordinary bail application," she said.

"The court has to follow the laws of this country when deciding bail conditions for foreigners. In order to allow the applicant to stay [here] the court would have to legalise his stay in South Africa while he is awaiting trial. The court is unable to find any authority to allow that," Robinson said.