Broke suspect can’t pay fine, blames govt
MBABANE - A man who appeared in court charged with drink-driving has alleged that government has not paid his company for two months.
As a result, Nhlanhla Sikhondze claimed that he would not be able to pay the fine at once.
He pleaded with the court to allow him to pay in installments, something which Magistrate Lenhle Zulu objected to.
“I am an electrician currently working for a company tendering to government.
Humbly
“Government has not been paying us for two months now. I humbly apply to pay the fine in installments,” he said.
Sikhondze was charged with six traffic related offences.
Besides driving on a public road while under the influence of alcohol, he was charged for knocking a motor vehicle driven by Lonkhokhela Dlamini.
Sikhondze was charged for fail
The charge sheet also pointed out that Sikhondze failed to assess the damages after causing the accident.
Asked where he got the money to buy alcohol from if he was not paid for two months, Sikhondze claimed that he was paid for a piece job on the day in question.
He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E1 000 for driving on the public road while under the influence of alcohol.
Sentenced
He was sentenced to seven months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E700 for knocking the motor vehicle and failing to stop after causing the accident.
He was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E1 000 for failing to adhere to the police signal. Sikhondze was fined E1 000 for pushing the police officer.
However the sentences were made to run concurrently, meaning he has to part with E1 000 to gain his liberation.