Mbabane – A teacher at the Manzini Nazarene High School, Meluleki Ndzabukelwako, has accused police officers of brutality during his arrest on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Ndzabukelwako who spent the weekend behind bars prior to him appearing before the Mbabane Principal Magistrate Fikile Nhlabatsi said police officers heavily assaulted him.
He pleaded guilty to contravening section 91 (1) the road traffic act no 6 of 2007 but also got the opportunity to tell the country of the alleged suffering of inhumane treatment at the hands of the police.
Ndzabukelwako said police forced him to blow into the breathalyser several times because the machine “was not reading the milligrams they wanted.” The final alcohol meter reading, after several attempts, was 0.95 mg/l, leading to his detention, he said.
The teacher narrated that he was kicked, pushed over onto a table, had his nose suffocated, and was punched several times on the stomach and back.
“I regret drinking alcohol. I was tortured by the police and now I have a headache and need to go to hospital for a checkup,” he said.
Ndzabukelwako, asked for leniency and a deferred payment, citing his family responsibilities. He was granted his wish.
He said he was the sole breadwinner, supporting two school-going children and his 87-year-old mother, who suffers from high blood pressure.
He also said his mother recently fell ill and is no longer able to walk, forcing the family to hire someone to take care of her.
“She has a heart appointment with the doctor, and I am the one who must ensure she receives treatment,” he added.
Ndzabukelwako is expected to reappear before the magistrate on September 22 for sentencing.
Until then, he remains under strict conditions from the magistrate despite the prosecution opposed to the deferred pay, raising fears that people usually do not return.
On another note, two others appeared in court on similar charges.
Wandile Mhlanga was arrested with his reading at 0.86mg/l.
Mhlanga did not waste the court’s time, pleading guilty.
In mitigation, Mhlanga apologised for his actions and vowed to never repeat a similar offence.
He said he had just found work and that he doesn’t wish to lose it over his incarceration.
Mhlanga was set free after being fined E4000 or two years imprisonment.
Another offender, Lisanda Lindokuhle Simelane had alcohol content reading recorded at 0.87mg/l.
Simelane told the court that he and his wife got into a heated argument which forced him to drive after taking a few drinks to avoid violence.
He said on his way to his parental home he met his bad luck. He described it as running away from a problem only to meet another huge problem. Simelane was ordered to pay a fine of E4000 in default of payment of two years imprisonment.
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