Mthunzini, KwaZulu-Natal - A driver for the KwaZulu-Natal premier, who was arrested for speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, was released on R1000 bail, the provincial transport department said on Wednesday.
The man appeared briefly in the Mthunzini Magistrate's Court on Wednesday morning, spokesman Kwanele Ncalane said. Further details on the court case, including the man's name, were not immediately available.
The 42-year-old was driving on the N2 at Fairbreeze, near Mthunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast on Tuesday, when he was allegedly caught doing 183km/h in a 120km/h zone, KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate spokeswoman Zinhle Mngomezulu said.
According to the Witness newspaper, a breathalyser test revealed he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.84g/100ml, several times over the legal limit of 0.05g/100ml.
Mngomezulu said she would only be able to comment on the man's blood-alcohol level when the results of blood tests were known.
She could not immediately confirm whether the Mercedes-Benz he was driving was his personal car or a state car.
Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize was not in the car at the time. Mngomezulu said the man had been travelling from Pietermaritzburg to Mthunzini, which was 230km away.
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesman for the premier, said he could not comment on the incident as it “may be interpreted in some quarters as interfering with the work of law enforcement agencies”. - Sapa