Mbabane – Mbabane Senior Magistrate Sfiso Vilakati has warned people appearing before court for alcohol-related offences to change their behaviour, saying a stricter law with heavier fines could be introduced at any time.
Vilakati issued the warning when two men appeared before him at the Mbabane Magistrates Court on separate alcohol-related charges.
Linda Nxumalo appeared before the magistrate after he was allegedly found sleeping on a public road over the weekend while under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
When asked about what happened, Nxumalo told the court that the last thing he remembered was hitchhiking.
He said he did not know what happened afterwards until he found himself in the police cells.
“I do not know how I got there,” Nxumalo told the court.
During the proceedings, Magistrate Vilakati quoted a verse from Taga which speaks about the effects of alcohol on a person’s behaviour.
The verse states: “Tjwala benta umuntfu abe sidvwaladvwala abange umsindvo bese akasakhoni kutiphatsa.”
The magistrate warned Nxumalo to stop drinking alcohol, saying his drinking appeared to be taking him to places he should not be going.
The court then dealt with the matter and Nxumalo was fined E8,000 or sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.
Also appearing before Magistrate Vilakati was Siphosethu Vilakati, who was charged with driving on a public road at Ngwenya after allegedly consuming an intoxicating substance.
In his defence, Vilakati told the court that he was not drunk on the day in question.
He said he had been returning from church and remembered taking siwasho before he was arrested by police.
The magistrate asked him what type of siwasho he had consumed.
Vilakati responded that he had been drinking Joko.
Magistrate Vilakati warned him to stop drinking Joko, saying it was clear that continuing to consume it could result in him being arrested again.
The magistrate went on to address people who continue to appear before the courts on charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
He warned motorists to stop driving after consuming alcohol, saying the law could become much stricter.
Magistrate Vilakati said a law could be introduced at any time imposing significantly higher fines on motorists found driving while drunk.
He said the current E800 fine appeared too small when compared with the number of people who continue to appear before court for driving while drunk.
The magistrate’s warning comes as alcohol-related cases continue to come before the courts, with motorists repeatedly being brought before the courts for allegedly driving after consuming alcohol.
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