‘Torture’ as court postpones cyclists’ case

TORTURE. That’s how Sonya Ferreira describes the drawn out legal process to find justice following the February death of her partner, Richard da Silva, 46, and his cycling companion Jared Dwyer, 36.

Yesterday, the Durban Magistrate’s Court again postponed the hearing of Phoenix plumber Omesh Ramnarain, 32, who is accused of culpable homicide, linked to the early morning deaths of the two cyclists on the M4. He also faces an alternative charge of negligent driving as well as a main charge of drunken driving.

Ferreira said she feared that with the time lapse, the tragedy could be forgotten, reducing the impact of the message that would be sent out with a sentence should Ramnarain be found guilty.

“Cyclists are asking what’s happening to the case?”

Ferreira joined Richard’s mother, Durban North businesswoman Rosa da Silva, his brother Carlos, Dwyer’s mother, Lee, and South Africans Against Drink Driving director Caro Smit, to protest against drunk driving and promote #abouttimejailtime.

Ferreira, who was among the cyclists that February morning, went on to say that South Africa had all the legislation of the first world but the law enforcement of the third world.

“You have meter attendants charging people for tickets but there’s little to stop people from driving with faulty indicators.”

She also said alcohol aside, people did not think about what they should not be doing when getting into the driver’s seat. “If we’re too tired, or need to send an SMS, we must not.”

Like alcohol, these too were the cause of accidents, she said. “This applies to all of us. We have got to be responsible when we are behind the wheel.”

Rosa da Silva said her son was taken from her “in such a cruel way”.

“Something has to be done. Police must do more to stop killing by drunk drivers.”

Dwyer’s mother said she hoped the court case would conclude in a prison sentence.

“That’s the only way I would see justice done for my child.”

It is alleged Ramnarain was four times over the limit. Smit said this would have impacted on his vision, a condition described as “blind drunk”.

Ramnarain is yet to plead and his lawyer was granted a postponement to October 4 to establish further particulars pertaining to the case.

His parents have expressed their sorrow for the Dwyer and Da Silva families.