Magistrate orders soldier to repeat oath

Senior Magistrate Joe Gumedze told Manqoba Mkhabela, 35, of Esigodvweni to repeat the oath he took upon passing out.

Shocked, Mkhabela first told the court that he did not remember.

Senior Magistrate Gumedze told him there was no way he could forget the oath he made on the day he passed out.

"Your Worship, when I passed out, I promised not to break the law and to always protect the nation. I do live by the oath, drinking and driving was a mistake on my part," Mkhabela said.

The senior magistrate told him that there was no room for mistakes.

Gumedze told Mkhabela that he could lose his job as he was not behaving like a disciplined soldier.

Mkhabela’s wife of two years, who is a member of the Royal Swaziland Police (RSP), was made to stand up in court. The senior magistrate asked her if she was aware that her husband drank alcohol and she responded in the affirmative.

Gumedze then told Mkhabela that he was a disgrace to his wife, a teetotaller.

"You could be able to buy the whole Swaziland Breweries and drink yourself silly but please restrain yourself. Do not break the law and drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, that is the discipline expected from you because you are a soldier," Senior Magistrate Gumedze said.

Mkhabela was arrested near the Matsapha Industrial Site yesterday.

He was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment with an option of E1 500 fine.

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