IS THAT FAIR JUSTICE?

Sir,

A recent article reported how a car of an officer of the court ‘moved in a zig-zag manner before driving into the wrong street within the town centre’.  Basically, he drove past a no entry sign into a one way street in the town centre.
Perhaps the traffic police are lenient during the week because the article also says they were only going to caution him despite the dangerous driving, until it became obvious he was under the influence.

This man presides over a court of law and should thus be setting an example, be even more respectful of the kingdom’s laws because he is a man tasked with handing down rulings on those who break the law?
Why is he not being punished more harshly when he is an ‘Officer of the court’? If he does not practice what he preaches then who will respect the law?
 This man’s colleague gave him a far lighter sentence than any passed down to similar offenders over the last few months. 

Many offenders have had similar excuses of being forced to drink and drive. They are not given a fine which is more or less 50 per cent less than the lowest fine given to a person appearing for drink driving offence in court recently.
Recently, there has been mass attention on this crime which is treated with more ‘charitable and kind’ punishments than any of our neighbouring SADC members or the entire First World?

For some reason stern punishment for DD is given a wide berth when it should lead to loss of licence and even incarceration but no, manageable fines or as in this case the lowest fine I have seen for any offender and this for an officer of the court.

What is disappointing is that members of the governing and legal fraternities have stood up to say that tourists, rich folk and drivers of fancy cars should be given leeway when it comes to DD and there should not be focus on prosecuting visitors and tourists who are here to spend their money? When we visit neighbouring countries, the focus is definitely on us, ask anyone.
It was reported last week that it will no longer be a stroll for in the park for motorists as new traffic fines have been proposed.

But amazingly, there is no mention of DD but woe betide your elbow protrudes or you leave your engine running, the full wrath of the law will be felt by you!
The ‘officer of the court’ who drove dangerously and was over the alcohol limit was given the same fine as the newly proposed fine for jaywalkers or drivers without a hooter!? If that is consistency then I am on another page altogether.
No, another planet more like! Then there was a great comment from Governor Sithole who said, “Traffic fines needed to be increased so that government could generate revenue”.

 That presumably is in line with absolutely everything else that needs to be or needed to be increased from basic amenities to kombi rides to mealie meal, with the Swazi nation bearing the brunt of this government’s shortfalls?
This also means there is a focus on collecting money rather than a long term picture of bringing a First World order to our roads and highways.
We Swazis are good people, we accept increases and cutbacks, we take it all on the chin while others meanwhile feel kindness and charity.

One4One&One4Rest.com           



 

       

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