JOHANNESBURG, December 20 (ANA) – A R40,000 fine meted out to a KwaZulu-Natal motorist and the suspension of his licence for driving way above the speed limit was not enough of a deterrent the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said on Tuesday.
“The Road Traffic Management Corporation has noted the heavy fine given to a KwaZulu Natal motorist but feels that more could have been done to punish this rogue behaviour,” said spokesman, Simon Zwane.
“While we accept the R40,000 fine imposed on Mr Sthembiso Xolani Ntombela, we feel that the suspension of his driver’s licence was lenient.
“Our view is that the fine should have been accompanied by the cancellation of the licence to show that the flagrant disregard for the law will not be tolerated.
Zwane said Ntombela, a 28-year-old engineer from Umtentweni, KwaZulu-Natal, who was caught driving a Mercedes Benz C63 at 223 km/h, fits the profile of the people “who are causing mayhem on the roads and dying at a very young age”.
He said the sentence could have served as a better deterrent if the licence was taken away forcing him to go for a re-test after a couple of years of not driving.
“Ntombela’s conduct provides the most compelling reason why the Justice cluster should work with speed to re-classify such gross reckless and negligent behaviour and introduce a minimum sentence as punishment for such conduct,” said Zwane.
“This conduct is another demonstration of the kind of attitude, selfish and irresponsible behaviour that is undermining all efforts to promote safety on the roads and save lives.
“We condemn it in the strongest possible terms and criticise Ntombela for failing to be a good role model in his community.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
