KZN Premier Thami Ntuli has added his outrage to the case of a motorist who walked free on bail after going on a reckless rampage, allegedly driving under the influence, assaulting a traffic officer, and crashing into multiple vehicles.
The Witness reported that the suspect crashed into a vehicle near New England Road, assaulted a traffic officer who attempted to intervene, and then fled the scene.
He subsequently collided with several more vehicles, including two belonging to the traffic department, before being cornered and apprehended by Road Traffic Inspectorate officers in Hilton, where he crashed into a vehicle leaving a shopping complex.
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KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, commended the swift action of officers in detaining the suspect but raised sharp concerns about how the case has since been handled. Despite the gravity of the alleged offences, the suspect was released on bail last Sunday, with his court appearance set only for next year.
“This is not just a case of drunk driving. It is an outrageous disregard for public safety, the law, and those tasked with upholding it.
“A traffic officer was assaulted in the line of duty, public property was damaged, and innocent lives were endangered. The people of KwaZulu-Natal deserve to know how such a serious matter resulted in swift bail and such a long delay in prosecution,” said Ntuli.
He called on the Department of Transport and Human Settlement to monitor the case closely. “We cannot afford a justice system that appears indifferent to such blatant criminality. If there are gaps or failures in how this matter was processed, they must be identified and addressed urgently,” he said.
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A police sergeant, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said the case should have been opened in Hilton. “He should have been sent to PMB Central only for detention as Hilton has no detention cells.
“Drunken driving detainees, if arrested on a Friday, do get released on bail on a Saturday or Sunday. But this case is different. There are numerous transgressions, including the assault of a law enforcement officer, so it doesn’t make sense for the man to be released before a court appearance,” said the officer.
Transport MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed that the Premier’s office had contacted him. “This is a collective responsibility. We are on the side of innocent motorists, whose lives are endangered by reckless motorists who are drinking and driving showing disregard for the law.
We will work together with all the relevant stakeholders to deal with this matter. We want this motorist to face the full might of the law. Those that are seen to be working against the law must be brought to book.
“Next week on Tuesday we will have a portfolio committee meeting on transport, and I will table this matter before the members of the committee from across all political parties,” said Duma.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the 41-year-old suspect was only charged for drunk and reckless driving, and not for assault or malicious damage.