Durban – The driver of an articulated truck that killed 23 people when its brakes allegedly failed has a new lawyer.

Sanele Goodness May’s lawyer Theasen Pillay withdrew from the case when he appeared in the Pinetown Regional Court on Monday.

Pillay was appointed by May’s employers Sagekal Logistics.

The case against May was postponed to 8 October, after his new lawyer Professor Mdletshe told the court that new evidence had been given to the prosecution, and it had been agreed that the case would need to be postponed while this evidence was investigated by police.

It was not revealed in court what this information was and the matter was postponed for a formal bail application.

The application had previously been set down for Wednesday.

Earlier Pillay said three other attorneys had arrived at court to defend May.

The accident occurred when the truck May was driving hit four fully-laden minibus taxis and two cars on the corner of Field’s Hill (M13) and Richmond Road in Pinetown shortly before 19:00 on 6 September.

He was initially charged with 22 counts of culpable homicide, but this was subsequently upgraded to 22 counts of murder and a charge of reckless or negligent driving.

A 23rd person injured in the crash died on Saturday.

– SAPA