Orrin Singh16 January 2024 | 15:34

Chikunga says pain of losing family members came back after seeing man who killed them

Celumusa Ngwenya appeared in the Ladysmith Magistrates Court on six counts of culpable homicide relating to an accident on the N11 in July 2022.

Chikunga says pain of losing family members came back after seeing man who killed them

FILE: Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga at a media briefing on 20 July 2023. Picture: Rejoice Ndlovu/Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga came face to face on Tuesday with the man who killed six of her family members.

Celumusa Ngwenya appeared in the Ladysmith Magistrates Court on six counts of culpable homicide relating to an accident on the N11 in July 2022.

The deceased, aged between four and 40, were Chikunga’s family members.

The minister said she now understood the trauma people faced during court cases.

"I have this experience that people go through as and when they have to attend court because everything becomes fresh. The pain or whatever you’re thinking, it’s beginning to get better, it just comes back like it was the 17th of July. We miss our children... I really miss my children very much."

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Natasha Kara detaieds the outcome of Tuesday’s proceedings.

"During court proceedings today, he opted for Legal Aid and the matter was remanded to the 14th of February for consultation and copies of the docket. Ngwenya will remain out on a warning since he was brought to court on summons."