Times Of Swaziland: NATCOM: NO MORE ‘DD’ CASES IN CHAMBERS

NATCOM: NO MORE ‘DD’ CASES IN CHAMBERS
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Sibusiso Shange on 15/11/2024 08:48:00


EZULWINI- If you drink and drive, and anticipate your case to be heard in
chambers, to avoid the media and the public, forget it.
This is because the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, Vusi Manoma
Masango, declared that no case of drink-driving will be heard in chambers.
Masango said all drink-drivers will be unmasked and have their pictures
published in the newspapers. “No drink-driving case will be dealt with in
chambers, because people will keep committing the offence, without being
noticed. We have a strategy to arrest, name and shame all drink-drivers through
publishing their faces in the media,” he said.
He said this is not because he does not drink alcohol, but because every life
matters.   “Many people have died on the roads. We have many orphans in the
country and when you look for the cause, you find that drink-driving contributes
a lot to the fatal accidents. How many emaSwati should die on the roads because
we allow drink-driving. No money can compensate even one lost life,” the
NATCOM said.
Escape
Worth noting is that some drink-drivers escape with minor sentences if they had
their cases dealt with in magistrates’ chambers.  This normally happens when
they are brought before a magistrate, who is not allowed in law to impose the
maximum sentence, which stands at E5 000 or five years imprisonment or both. On
another note, not for the first time, Masango warned parents to keep a vigilant
eye on their children, so that they do not fall into gangsterism, which
continues to show its ugly face in communities.
“Why are we paid if we fail to deal with crime? This country will not be ruled
by gangsters. If we fail to deal with crime, we will be asked about it, because
it will mean we are failing to do our job. What are we doing as government to
ensure that children are not found next to shops in the evening?” he asked.
Masango was speaking during the Hhohho Regional Prayer themed ‘United in hope
and fellowship in God against crime’ held at Ezulwini Police Post yesterday.