An unemployed father of seven who was arrested for driving under the influence has apologised to the court.
Joseph Hlanze was arrested while driving along the MR6 public road at Buhleni at about 9:17pm on Saturday.
He was charged with driving a vehicle while under the influence. His breathalyser reading was 0.6mg/ml.
Hlanze pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea.
In mitigation, he pleaded for leniency, telling the court that he was unemployed, depended on odd jobs for a living and had seven children.
The court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of E800.
Meanwhile, Sandile Khoza told the court that he had an emergency as he was rushing an elderly person to Piggs Peak Government Hospital.
Khoza appeared before Magistrate Cebsile Ngwenya, charged with contravening sections of the Road Traffic Act No. 6 of 2007.
According to the charge sheet, on Saturday at about 10pm at Msahweni, Khoza was found driving a vehicle on a public road while under the influence.
His breathalyser reading was 0.62mg/ml, above the prescribed legal limit of 0.38mg/ml.
Khoza pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea.
In mitigation, he apologised and explained that he had been assisting an elderly person who was sick.
Magistrate Ngwenya sentenced Khoza to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of E800.
Samkeliso Shabangu landed in trouble after his alcohol reading was recorded at 2mg/ml. He faced two counts, the other being driving a vehicle without a valid driver’s licence.
Shabangu pleaded guilty to both counts and was convicted in accordance with his pleas.
In mitigation, he apologised and pleaded for leniency, telling the court that he had been forced to drive because he needed to collect an elderly person from a bus stop.
He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of E800 on count one, while on count two he was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of E500.
The sentences were ordered to run consecutively.
Another offender, Boy Mabaso, told the court that he was driving a faulty vehicle.
According to the charge sheet, Mabaso was arrested on Makhweya D35 at about 6:30pm on Saturday while driving on a public road under the influence.
His alcohol breathalyser recorded 0.74mg/ml.
He pleaded guilty and was convicted in accordance with his plea.
In mitigation, Mabaso also apologised, telling the court that his vehicle had developed mechanical faults and he had gone to have it repaired.
He said by the time he was arrested, he was already on his way home.
He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of E800.
