Over 7 people appear for drunken driving
…. most fined E2000, 23-year-old charged for carrying live ammunition
MAGISTRATE Fikile Nhlabatsi yesterday saw and fined over 7 people today who were charged with drink driving over the weekend.
First to appear was Mangaliso Ginindza who was arrested at Zone 2 on April 14, 2024, where his limit was 0.61miligrams. He pleaded guilty to the charge and mitigated that he was self-employed and had a threemonth-old baby.
He was fined E2000 or 2 years imprisonment, he was followed by Innocentia Madonsela a new mother and bread winner was also fined E2000/2 years in prison. Madonsela was arrested for her 0.59 milligrams.
“I’m the first offender of your worship when arrested I was rushing to the hospital, I would have not got in the car drunk,” she said.
Bonkhe Mavo was charged and fined E1500 for driving under the influence and E500 for driving without a license. In the same court a man over 60 appeared for drunken driving.
“Your worship I did not mean to drink I only had a cup of Emaganu, then I had to go back home, I’m sorry your worship,” said the man.
His mitigation was like that of Thembinkosi Dube who was charged with three counts. On April 13, 2024, Dube was driving an Opel Corsa when police officers stopped him. He had no driver’s license and his car license disk had not been paid for.
He was fined E4000 or 2 years in prison for the first count, and E800 or 6 months for the second count. His third count was charged E800 or 6 months in prison and the charges will run concurrently.
In the same court a 23-year-old Siphesihle Mkhwanazi was fined E2000 or imprisonment for 2 years after being found with a live round of ammunition. This happened on April 12, 2024.
According to Mkhwanazi the bullet did not belong to him, he was running for his life when he suddenly found refuge inside an empty bar.
The bullet was on the ground when the police found and arrested him, they assumed it was his, yet it was not.
“I was not going to hurt anyone that was not my intention I found this ammunition on the floor. I’m a first-time offender and I have never owned a gun in my life,” he said.
Warned
In a stern voice Magistrate Nhlabatsi warned offenders against drinking and driving, stating that they were running at the risk of killing people and dying by driving under the influence.
“Drinking and driving increases the risk of accidents due to impaired motor skills, less concentration, slow reaction times, decreased vision, and poor judgment. These side effects put the driver, potential passengers, other vehicles, and pedestrians at risk. Accidents involving drunk drivers are often fatal,” she said.
In addition to that she said they were going to be extra hard on people who drank and then got behind the wheel.