A Makana Municipality employee pleaded not guilty last week to charges of driving a municipal car while under the influence of alcohol.
A Makana Municipality employee pleaded not guilty last week to charges of driving a municipal car while under the influence of alcohol.
The man was accompanied by two passengers when police officers stopped the municipal bakkie in Fitzroy Street on 18 November 2012. Police constables Xolani Sokanyile and David Montshajang took to the stand at the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court last Thursday 8 August.
They told the court that when they spotted the bakkie it was zig-zagging across the road, and even facing oncoming traffic at times.
Makana employee Mzukisi Damane pleaded not guilty to the drunk driving charges. Damane’s attorney said he will testify that he had stopped his car because he had reached his destination, not because he was stopped by the police.
He disputes the fact that the police officers used blue lights and a siren to stop him. He says he went to Fitzroy Street to check on municipal workers and he stopped near where they were.
Both police officers testified that they initially thought Damane might have been speaking on his cell phone, leading to the reckless driving. Sokanyile told the court that after following the vehicle for about a kilometre, they noticed that Damane was not on his phone.
They then switched on their siren and blue lights to indicate that Damane must pull over. Sokanyile asked Damane to switch off his engine and get out of the vehicle.
He initially refused to get out of the vehicle and when he finally did, both police officers said he had to hold on to the bakkie to support himself. The officers said they noticed numerous bottles of alcohol in the bakkie, some of which had been opened. Both officers said at the time Damane admitted to drinking before driving the municipal bakkie.
He admitted to having four beers before driving the car, according to Montshajang. The police officers called traffic officer Terrence Bafo to do a breathalyser test, which confirmed that Damane was over the legal limit and they arrested him.
He was then taken to Settlers’ Hospital for blood tests. Magistrate Nomnikelo Jebese postponed the case to 30 September for further evidence. The state will call the doctor who performed the blood test.
