9 arrested for ‘DD’ in Nhlangano
NHLANGANO – Nine people appeared for drink-driving offences at the Nhlangano Magistrates Court yesterday.
The nine were arrested by traffic officers from the different police stations in the Shiselweni Region. One of them, Sandile Mdluli (38) of Maseyisini, was arrested for being found seated on the driver’s seat while drunk, though the car’s engine wasn’t running.
He told the court that he did not know that sitting on the driver’s seat was criminal while under the influence of alcohol.
Sober
He stated that he was waiting for a sober driver, whom he had called, to take him home.
This was a similar case to that of Brightwell Dlamini (38) of Nkwalini, who was arrested for
being found by police seated on the driver’s seat, while he had
0.41mg/l alcohol content in his body. He told the court that he imbibed alcohol the day before his arrest and had thought the alcohol was no longer in his system. He said he drove because he had to attend a relative’s funeral. He was sentenced to eight months imprisonment or E800 fine. Thando Mdluli, on the other hand, was only granted bail after he was arrested for being found with E1.07mg/l of alcohol in his system while driving a mini bus.
Concerns
The court raised concerns about the alcohol reading, given that he was driving a public service vehicle.
He was told that his case would go to trial and that he was admitted to E2 000 bail, pending trial on May 21, 2024. While out on bail, it was said that he was not supposed to commit similar offences.
Some of the offenders did not have licences, hence they faced second charges of driving without a valid driver’s licence.