MBABANE: Judge Bongani ‘BS’ Dlamini has delivered a judgement, blasting Magistrates Courts in the country for imposing huge fines on “drink and drivers”.
This comes after Daniel Dlamini challenged a ruling of the Magistrates Court, sentencing him to two (2) years imprisonment with an option of five thousand Rands (R5000.00) fine.
“The Appellant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him. The Court accordingly found Appellant guilty on his own plea in terms of Section 238 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 67 of 1938. After mitigation of sentence by Appellant, the court proceeded to sentence the Appellant to 2 years imprisonment with the option to pay a fine of E 5,000.00. Being dissatisfied with the conviction and sentence, the Appellant noted an appeal to this Court and listed the following grounds of appeal (as taken from the Amended Notice of Appeal)”, reads the judgement in part, delivered by High Court Judge BS Dlamini when overruling the lower Magistrates Court.
The High Court reduced the sentence to eight hundred Rands (R800.00) fine or six (6) months imprisonment, Daniel Dlamini was represented by Manyatsi and Associates.
High Court of Eswatini (pic:Internet).