The trial of Duduzane Zuma, the son of former president Jacob Zuma, who faces two charges of culpable homocide, began in the Randburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
The charges relate to a 2014 accident that resulted in the death of Phumzile Dube. Dube died after Zuma’s Porsche crashed into a minibus taxi on the M1 in Johannesburg.
Another passenger, Nanki Jeanette Mashaba, later died in hospital.
The State, however, withdrew one of the charges after it was found that the deceased, Mashaba, had another pre-existing medical condition.
The National Prosecuting Authority, in August 2015, decided not to prosecute Duduzane, despite the findings of an inquest that the President’s son was negligent in the accident.
"He failed to conduct himself in a reasonable manner under the circumstances," Randburg Magistrate’s Court Magistrate Lolita Chetty said at the time.
Duduzane’s car rear-ended Jabulani Vusi Dlamini’s minibus taxi on the M1 South off-ramp to Grayston Drive in Sandton. Dube was killed and three other passengers were injured.
During the inquest, Zuma said he lost control of his Porsche after it hit a puddle in rainy conditions.
Former State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who now heads Afriforum's Private Prosecuting Unit, has assisted the Dube family which resulted in the NPA re-instating charges against Zuma.
The trial continues.
-African News Agency
