Mbabane – Drink driving cases recorded in court dropped to four on January 18 following ongoing enforcement measures that include the revocation of driver’s licences, magistrates heard during proceedings held in the Manzini region.
The matters involved four men arrested at different locations across the country and charged under the Road Traffic Act of 2007 after breathalyser tests showed alcohol levels above the legal limit of 0.38mg per litre.
Leon Manyisa, 25, of Lobamba, was arrested at Langeni and charged with two counts for contravening Section 91 of the Act for driving under the influence of alcohol and for failing to produce a drivers licence. Tests showed that Manyisa had 1.09mg per litre of alcohol in his system. He told the court that he was a first time offender and apologised. The court fined him E5,000 or two years imprisonment for the first count and E800 or six months imprisonment for the second count, with the sentences running concurrently.
Another offender, Siboniso Sikhondze, faced two counts after being found driving under the influence of alcohol and operating a vehicle without registration plates, contrary to Sections 91 and 13 of the Act. Sikhondze recorded an alcohol level of 1.0mg per litre. During mitigation, he apologised and told the court that he was a breadwinner with a young child depending on him. He was fined E5,000 or two years imprisonment for the drink driving charge and E800 or six months imprisonment for the registration offence, with both sentences to run concurrently.
Damian Anderson, 29, of Mmnantsholo, was arrested for driving under the influence after a breathalyser test recorded 1.23mg per litre of alcohol in his system. He pleaded for leniency, citing that it was his first offence, and apologised to the court. He was fined E5,000 or, failing payment, two years imprisonment.
Nkosinathi Nkambule, 38, from Bandzeni, was also arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Tests showed an alcohol level of 0.83mg per litre. Nkambule told the court that he was a first time offender, asked for leniency and promised not to repeat the offence. He was fined E3,000 or two years imprisonment in default of payment.
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