SA MUNICIPAL OFFICER ARRESTED FOR ‘DD

MANZINI - Magistrate Dumisa Mazibuko told a drink-driving Secunda Municipality Disaster officer, Mathew Selepe, not to cause or be a disaster in the country.
The magistrate said this to Selepe (34) of South Africa during his appearance in court on Saturday where he was facing a drink-driving charge.

Selepe was arrested on Friday night near the University of Swaziland after he was found driving an Opel Corsa LDV with registration numbers FMH 677 MP while under the influence of alcohol.
His breath specimen reading was 0.49mg/l, which was above the legal limit of 0.38mg/l.

During his appearance in court, the accused person opted to conduct his own defence and he pleaded guilty to the charge. The court found him guilty as charged and as per the plea that he tendered before court.
Selepe told the court that it was not his intention to commit the offence. He said he had visited a friend in the country.

Disaster

After the court learned that Selepe was employed as a Disaster Officer in Secunda Municipality, the magistrate wondered how he was a disaster officer because he seemed to be a disaster himself.
“Do not bring disaster in the country because we have enough of our own disasters here,” the magistrate said.
In mitigation, Selepe pleaded with the court to be lenient in passing the sentence because he had a wife and three children who solely depended on him.

“May the court be lenient with me because I have already booked in and can only afford to pay E1 000 fine,” Selepe said.
Magistrate Mazibuko told him that if he would not have the money to pay the fine, His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner General Mzuthini Ntshangase would be happy to have him as a disaster officer in one of his facilities in the country.

He said the commissioner general needs his skills to deal with disasters in the country’s prisons.
He was sentenced to two years in prison or to pay a E2 000 fine but half of the sentence was suspended for a period of two years on conditions that he did not commit a similar offence during the two years.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: