R15k fine or 45 days in jail for Yengeni

TONY Yengeni has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and sentenced to 90 days in prison or a fine of R30 000.

However, his sentence will effectively be halved if he is not again convicted of driving under the influence for five years, the Cape Town Regional Court heard yesterday.

This means a possible suspended sentence of 45 days imprisonment or a R15 000 fine.

Magistrate Grant Engel said this was on condition Yengeni not be convicted of driving under the influence or found driving with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.05g per 100ml during the five-year period of the suspension.

His driver’s licence was not suspended, said the magistrate, as he needed it for work.

Yengeni was found not guilty on a charge of reckless or negligent driving.

The ANC national executive committee member was arrested on August 11, 2013, in Green Point driving erratically, according to police.

Yengeni denied that he was drunk, saying: “If I was five times over the legal limit, I would have caused a serious accident.”

He gave evidence that he had only had a few sips of traditional African beer earlier that day, and previously claimed the prosecution was part of a political conspiracy against him. – ANA

Tony Yengeni