Man knocked down by car arrested
MBABANE – A pedestrian has been charged for negligence after he was knocked down by a motor vehicle while at Nkwalini in Mbabane.
Fortune Shongwe made his appearance beforeActing Mbabane Principal Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati yesterday.
According to the charge sheet, Shongwe conducted himself in a manner that exposed him and other road users to danger, resulting in him being knocked down by a BMW driven by Gcebile Tsabedze. However, when the charge was read to him, Shongwe pleaded not guilty. He claimed that he was not aware that he was in the wrong until he was called by the police.
“I did not realise that I was accused of negligence when the police officers told me to sign a document. I couldn’t go through the document because the police officers told me that they were in a rush,” Shongwe alleged.
Injuries
He also applied for a long postponement so that he could recover from the injuries sustained during the accident. Shongwe was walking with the aid of crutches.
In view of the circumstances, Magistrate Vilakati adjourned the matter until August 26, 2022. He said he was hoping that Shongwe would have recovered during the return date.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Thembumenzi Vilakati appeared charged with negligent driving after she lost control of her motor vehicle, resulting in it knocking an electricity pole while near Forbes Reef at Nkhaba. Vilakati told the court that she tried all in her powers to avoid the accident on the slippery road after she was disturbed by a horse. However, she stated that *Not real name she couldn’t control the motor vehicle, resulting in the accident. She was sentenced to five months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E500.
Ntokozo Shabalala was fined E500 in each of five counts after he knocked a motor vehicle parked by Simphiwe Zulu. He was fined for failing to stop after causing the accident. Shabalala did not assess the extent of the damages after the accident. It also appeared that he failed to report the accident within 24 hours.