Bachelors of booze make good
Students swallow pride as cops rein in Pretoria’s varsity rowdies
WHILE most of his peers study in the library during their free time, a fourth-year law student is forced to swallow his pride and weed gardens and repaint court buildings.
The 22-year-old is one of four students who have each been ordered to perform 200 hours of community service by the Hatfield Community Court in Pretoria after admitting to drunken driving.
Three of the students are from the University of Pretoria and the fourth is from the Tshwane University of Technology.
They are among dozens of young people nabbed for drunk driving who have been placed in diversion programmes in the past seven months by just one of several bodies in Pretoria.
The law student, whose father is an attorney, said community service had taught him a lesson. “I will never drink and drive again. I definitely think it [community service] is a good alternative to getting a criminal record,” he said.
“I work harder now academically, because I got a second chance and I know I must make the most of it. My career would have been doomed if I had a criminal record.” So far, he has served 37 hours of his community service, which has to be completed in six months.
First offenders charged with common assault, drunk driving and possession of drugs are eligible to participate in Hatfield Community Court’s diversion programme. Attendance at a one-day workshop at the alcohol safety school is mandatory for all participants.
This week, the student and his three peers weeded the gardens and swept the paving at the premises of the Hatfield City Improvement District, which is one of the organisations responsible for monitoring those doing community service.
They appeared remorseful while sharing their stories, but had no immediate plans of giving up drinking.
“I haven’t given up alcohol, but I have reduced the amount I drink. I am planning to drink only on my birthday,” said one.
All four had been drinking at Hatfield Square, a popular hang- out near the University of Pretoria, when they were pulled over by the police at roadblocks.
He said he had been drinking before he went to Hatfield Square, where he had two double brandies and coke. The police later arrested him and he spent a few hours in the holding cells at the Brooklyn police sta-
My career would have been doomed if I had a criminal record
tion before being released on R1 000 bail.
“On the way to the hospital to draw blood, the police arrested another two students for drunk driving,” he said.
One of the four, a mechanical engineering student, said he felt ashamed after being arrested, but realised it could happen to anyone. He has to complete 60 hours of community service in the next two weeks.
“I have no idea how I am going to do that,” he said.
A 23-year-old science student said: “I don’t think any of us will want to make this mistake again.” He said he knew of a number of postgraduate students who completed their studies a few years ago who had also performed community service.
Danie Basson, chief operating officer of the Hatfield City Improvement District, said those charged with common assault had to attend anger management classes.
Head of safety and security Stalks Ngonyama said students frequented taverns close to a campus of the Tshwane University of Technology from as early as 10am. He said about 30 people, including high school pupils, were arrested for possession of alcohol and drugs in the past three months.
Salim Yousuf, president of the Tshwane Chamber of Commerce, said community service was a vital initiative.