‘My partner was in labour’

A drink-driving offender yesterday at the Mbabane Magistrate’s Court said he had no choice but to drive his partner to hospital as she was in labour.

Michael Tsela appeared before Magistrate Xolile Nxumalo at the Mbabane Magistrate’s Court on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the charge sheet, Tsela was found with an alcohol concentration of 0.51mg/l.

After being advised of his right to legal representation he elected to conduct his own defence and pleaded guilty to the offence. During mitigation, he apologised to the court and pleaded guilty saying he had not intended to break the law.

“I humbly plead for the court’s leniency. The mother of my child was sick and I had to drive her to hospital to give birth and my family depends on me,” he said.

Tsela further assured the court that he had learnt from the incident and would never drink and drive again. Magistrate Nxumalo sentenced him to six months imprisonment with an option of a fine of E800. Meanwhile, another motorist Bongani Sibandze appeared before the same court facing two charges under the Road Traffic Act.

Sibandze was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he was found with an alcohol concentration of 1.16mg/l.

He also faced charges of driving an unroadworthy vehicle and operating a vehicle with an expired clearance certificate. In mitigation, he apologised and pleaded guilty on both counts saying he had not intended to break the law.

“I apologise to the court and I will not commit a similar offense again. I request a lenient sentence,” he said.

On the charge of driving a vehicle with an expired clearance certificate, he was sentenced to five months imprisonment with an option of a fine of E500. He received a further six months prison sentence, with an option of a fine of E800 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The court ordered that both sentences run concurrently.