A suspected drunk and unlicensed driver found out that you can run but you can’t hide from the long arm of the law. On Sunday evening at about 9pm, the 22-year-old man was driving a bakkie in the central business district when he crashed into a vehicle at the intersection of Harding and Alexandra streets.

The occupant in the other vehicle was Ward Four proportional representation (PR) Councillor Mthembeni Majola. Speaking on Monday from a bed at Estcourt Provincial Hospital, where he was taken after suffering minor injuries, Mr Majola explained what took place that night.

“It was about 9pm and my vehicle was stopped at the robot at the intersection. Once the robot turned green, I proceeded to drive. An approaching driver in a bakkie did not stop, although the robot was red for him.

The bakkie hit into the driver’s and passenger’s door. I was injured on the right ear and a bone in my shoulder has been broken.”

Driver seeks cover under truck

A police report indicates that when police officers arrived, the 22-year-old driver had fled the scene.

“The driver was followed and the bakkie was found at a driving school in Industria Road but the driver was not inside. “A search for the driver continued and he was found hiding under a truck at a driving school,” commented police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel TM Mabaso.

The man underwent a blood test, as it was suspected that he was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested, charged for drunk driving and appeared in the Estcourt Magistrates Court on Monday, July 13. Meanwhile Mr Majola hopes that swift justice will prevail.

“This boy was drunk and not licensed. This is really a problem because it is unsafe for people like this to be driving on public roads. They are putting lives at risk. Being in hospital also means that I am unable to continue with my work as a PR Councillor and is delaying work in the community,” he said.