JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- A South African court on Monday charged a driver for culpable homicide for being involved in an traffic accident in KwaZulu-Natal province, which killed 21 people, last Friday.

The truck driver, Sibusiso Siyaya, 28, tried to overtake another truck and collided head on with a bakkie carrying school children. Nineteen children and two adults were killed in the accident.

Siyaya appeared at the Pongola Magistrates' Court Monday. He faces 21 counts of culpable homicide. He was remanded into custody till Sept. 26, 2022 for a bail application, said Natasha Ramkisson-Kara KwaZulu-Natal provincial spokesperson for the National Prosecution Authority.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent condolences to the families of the victims, saying "We cannot afford to lose such precious lives under any conditions. I hope the investigation into the Pongola incident will shed light on the cause of this tragedy and help us take better care of our children into the future." .