By Delisa Thwala
The Magistrate Court yesterday was as per Monday procedure filled with drunken drivers set to appear before Magistrate Innocent Motsa.
The small courtroom held over 30 accused people who filed the court with a leftover alcohol smell. The first accused to be honest and set a precedent for the others was Mandla Msibi
Arrested on April 27, 2024 in Malkerns for driving while under the influence, when was breathalysed his alcohol content was 0.53. Msibi told the court was out of his mind when he drank and drove.
“Kusangana, your worship. There was a funeral at home, but it was stopped, and I had to take on the matter which is still in court as we speak. I then drank trying to calm myself and take the pressure off. I didn’t mean to drive but I had to due to the halt of the funeral,” said Msibi in his mitigation.
Magistrate Motsa slapped him with a fine of E2000 or dsce 2 years imprisonment, and E1000 was suspended from his fine.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Mvuno Jele appeared in the same court for four counts, 2 of which he pleaded not guilty.
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The counts are that on April 28, 2024, he was charged with driving under the influence with an alcohol content of 0.68, and the second count was that of negligent driving as was said to have been making zig-zag movements with his Kia Picanto along the Mangwaneni road.
On the third count, Jele had overloaded his car, there were six people in the car, instead of 4. The last count was not stopping when police officers stopped him.
His lawyer mitigated on his behalf that he was still a young boy learning life and thriving on the influence of friends but had learned his lesson when he spent 2 nights behind bars.
He was fined E2000 or 2 years in prison for his first count and his third count he was fined E800 or 8 months imprisonment.
A woman named Nolwazi Malinga said it was her first time driving under the influence because she had an emergency to take care of.
“I was somewhere else when I received a call about my tap leaking, I had to rush there to avoid further leakages,” said Malinga.
She had been found with an alcohol content of 0.64, the Magistrate gave her a fine of E2000 or 2 years imprisonment.
Sifiso Nkambule left the court in stitches when he mitigated for leniency and said he had already spent the 3 nights behind bars using ichty and smelly blankets.
“ Your worship I have learned my lesson, please be lenient with me.
My time behind bars was not fun but eye-opening because I had to use smelly blankets that left my skin itchy and with rash allergies,” said Nkambule.
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He had been charged with driving under the influence with his alcohol content being 0.68 milligrams. He was slapped with a fine of E2000 or 2 years in prison.
Magistrate Innocent Motsa has assured emaSwati that the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) will work hard to make sure drunken drivers are kept behind bars.
“Basatonibopha. Make sure you drink and stay home because why would you be behind the wheel under the influence? You are risking lives.
Get your breathalyzer so you know your intake and alcohol content,” said Motsa.
