Strangulated driver knocks down six pedestrians

By Bahle Gama

A motorist said he was left traumatised after he was strangulated by an unknown man before driving his VW Polo sedan, which was later involved in an incident, knocking down six pedestrians.

The 29-year-old, Morakeng Thobisa Hlanze, opted to conduct his defence after his legal rights were explained to him appeared before Magistrate Qolile Mtetwa after his arrest and being charged with contravening Section 89 (1) as read with Section 122 (4) of the Road Traffic Act 6 of 2007.

On December 3 at about 1.15 pm near Queensgate, Hlanze who was driving a VW Polo sedan reportedly drove the vehicle negligently along Somhlolo Road wherein he lost control of it, veered off the roadway, and knocked down six pedestrians who were walking along the road.

The pedestrians sustained injuries and were all rushed to the Mbabane Government Hospital where they were treated and discharged. Hlanze is alleged to have been driving at an unreasonable speed, driving without due care and attention, failing to brake timeously, and further failing to avoid an accident that a reasonable driver would have avoided.

“I humbly apologise for my wrongful actions. I was from a trauma where I was strangled by someone and almost died. My mind had been disturbed by that incident that I paid less attention whilst driving. I plead for the court’s leniency,” he said.

Hlanze was sentenced to three months in prison with an option of a fine of E450. In the same court, a driver from the Department of Treasury was sentenced to the same number of months after he reversed and knocked a stationary car at the Treasury’s parking lot on November 2.

The driver, 41-year-old Pavillion Calvin Roberts reversed onto the parked Isuzu 4 Tone Truck which belonged to 30-year-old Njabulo Hleta from Nhlangano. He pleaded for the court’s leniency and stated that he was assisting Hleta in fixing the damages on the truck.

“I am a father of three children who are solely dependent on me and work as a driver at the Treasury Department. I plead for the court’s leniency,” he said.