DURBAN – The search for Vusi Tega, the Zimbabwean truck driver accused of causing a devastating pile-up on the N3 in 2022, has intensified as authorities continue to pursue all leads. Tega is wanted in connection with the horrific collision in Mariannhill that resulted in the deaths of Priyanka Nunkumar and her fiancé, Pradhil Thakur Kooblall. The incident, which saw Tega’s truck plough into 13 vehicles, has left the victims’ families reeling and demanding justice.
The incident occurred in 2022, and Tega, 42, made a brief appearance in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court shortly after. Represented by attorney Samlal Garbaran, he faced two counts of culpable homicide. However, Tega subsequently failed to appear in court, leading to the current manhunt and accusations of systemic failures within the justice system.
According to NPA regional spokesperson Natasha Ramkisson-Kara, the NPA has taken steps to ensure Tega is apprehended. “The matter involving Tega remains active,” she stated. “The previously issued bench warrant has been substituted with a J50 warrant to enable the SAPS to circulate the accused’s details. The NPA has been informed by the investigating officer that the accused has now been flagged at all ports of entry.”
The investigating officer has also identified the company that employed Tega, but the business premises in Springfield, Durban, have since been closed. Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda has urged anyone with information on Tega’s whereabouts to contact Warrant Officer Louw on 031 765 9104 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
The families of the deceased have voiced their frustration and anger at the handling of the case. Priyanka’s father, Adhrish Nunkumar, has been particularly vocal in his criticism of the authorities. “This case is a simple matter of justice delayed is justice denied,” he said. “As families of the innocent victims, are we to become another statistic of the systemic failure that is currently pervading our justice system and the SAPS?”
Nunkumar questioned the decision to grant bail to Tega, highlighting the fact that he was a foreign national. “Knowing how porous our borders are, with foreigners slipping in and out of our country with ease, this should have sounded the alarm bells for bail to be clearly denied,” he stated. “We still mourn the loss of our children, and we will live with this grief till our very last breath, whilst a negligent driver and the unscrupulous employer enjoy their lives with their families without any remorse and a conscience.”
Attorney Anesh Maharaj, representing the Thakur-Rajbansi family, echoed these concerns, accusing authorities of rushing to grant bail without proper verification of Tega’s documents. “The families established that no verification of the licence and residence permits were undertaken by the investigating officer,” Maharaj said. “The police simply seem to have shrugged off the absconding of the driver as an unfortunate incident.”
Maharaj also criticised the police’s apparent lack of effort in tracking down Tega and the truck’s owner. “The refusal by the police to perform their clear functions of investigating the whereabouts of the driver and arresting him borders on unlawfulness on their part,” he asserted. “For the police to simply state that the owner cannot be located is laughable and demonstrates sheer incompetence on their part.”
In the aftermath of the accident, Maxwell Tega, the driver’s cousin, expressed condolences to the families of the victims. “No-one deserves to die in that manner,” he said. He also stated that the incident had taken a toll on Tega’s two children, who were aware of the crash. Maxwell Tega added that his cousin had been driving since obtaining his licence in 2009 and had been living in the Bluff, south of Durban, since 2018.
The NPA has defended its position on the bail decision, stating that it opposed bail in cases where it believed the accused was high risk but that “the court ultimately decides”.
The case has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the justice system, border control, and the thoroughness of police investigations. The families of Priyanka Nunkumar and Pradhil Thakur Kooblall remain committed to seeking justice and are urging the authorities to intensify their efforts to locate Vusi Tega.
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