Politician on drunk-driving charge after crashing car
Man drives municipal vehicle into 2 houses
A SENIOR politician from the Newcastle Municipality is expected to appear in court today on charges of reckless and negligent driving and drunk driving after he allegedly crashed his vehicle into two houses early yesterday morning.
The man, who cannot be named until he appears in court, was arrested after his municipal vehicle crashed into houses in Osizweni township.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane confirmed the case.
“At 1am, a 31-year-old male was arrested for reckless and negligent driving as well as driving under the influence of an intoxicating substance after he allegedly crashed into two houses in B Section, Osizweni.
“He was charged and will appear in the Madadeni Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (today),” said Zwane.
It is alleged that the man was unable to control his vehicle while driving around a sharp bend, and the car went over a wall and crashed into the homes.
Newcastle Municipality head of communications, Dumisani Thabethe, confirmed that an employee had been involved in a car accident but declined to provide further details.
He also confirmed that the vehicle involved in the incident belonged to the municipality, and that it had been damaged in the crash.
“We don’t have the full information on what happened. I did visit the scene in the morning (yesterday) where I was able to see the damage to both houses,” said Thabethe.
EFF provincial chairperson Vusi Khoza said that the party was shocked by the arrest.
“We want answers on how he is going to compensate the municipality, what steps are going to be taken against him, and also who is going to pay for the damage?” said Khoza.
He called on the MEC of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sipho Hlomuka, to investigate the matter.
Mbali Ntuli, the DA’s provincial spokesperson on co-operative governance and traditional affairs, said the official was abusing the municipality’s assets in his personal capacity.
“We hope that the law will take its course. No one is, or should be, above the law.
“If he was putting other people in danger because of reckless behaviour, we expect that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Ntuli.