Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has welcomed the R70 000 fine, as well as suspension of driving licence, imposed earlier today, Thursday, 25 March 2010 on a KwaZulu-Natal motorist.
M Amith Sookraj (30 years of age) of Durban, who was driving an Audi Quattro A5 2L Turbo at the time of the offence, was arrested by the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate at about 02h00 on Tuesday, 23 March after a high-speed chase on the N2 from Park Rynie to Amanzintoti. He was charged for speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to stop. He appeared in the Scottburgh Magistrate's Court yesterday, Wednesday, 24 March. Mr Sookraj was sentenced earlier today, 25 March in the Scottburgh Magistrate's Court to a fine of R35 000 for speeding and failing to stop, R35 000 for drunk driving and his licence was suspended for six months.
“We welcome this sentence and hope that it will send a clear message to other motorists that if you commit any traffic offence, any time of day or night, you will be caught and will face the full might of the law. We are pleased that the magistrate handed down the maximum sentence for speed offences in terms of the Road Traffic Act. We also welcome the court’s decision to suspend the driving licence for a period of six months, as this is where the real punishment lies in that a motorist who has abused his privilege of a driving licence will now be inconvenienced and his movements curtailed as he will have to arrange a lift, use a driver or make use of public transport. We also hope that this sentence, with the suspension of the driving licence, will serve as a benchmark for similar offences in other parts of the country. You can run but can’t hide,” said Minister Ndebele.
Meanwhile, another two motorists were arrested by the Special High Speed Unit (HSU) in Gauteng last night, 24 March for also travelling at speeds in excess of 200 km/h. At 22h45 last night, a motorist was arrested for travelling at 210 km/h in a 120 km/h zone in his Audi A4 2L Turbo on the N4 near the Garankuwa off-ramp.
Another motorist, in a Mercedes Benz C180, was arrested for travelling at an average speed of 225 km/h.
The HSU is manned by highly trained officers who utilise a fleet of unmarked, high pursuit vehicles equipped with special moving violation recorders. The HSU operates mostly in high accident frequency locations and at times when fatal crashes occur frequently along various provincial arterial routes.
“We want to commend these traffic officers on these arrests. As we approach the Easter holidays, traffic law enforcement will be stepped up. We are going to be merciless towards all those who disregard road rules. Obey the rules or pay the price,” the Minister said.
Road safety is everybody’s responsibility. All road users are urged to report bad driving on 0861 400 800.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
Issued by: Department of Transport
25 March 2010
