Durban - A veteran Durban policeman has been found guilty - for the third time - of driving while drunk.
Thokozani Blessing Masondo, 45, a member of the Durban Central Dog Unit, had a blood alcohol level of .308g per 100ml - or six times the legal limit of 0.05g/100ml - in the latest incident, which took place in 2012 while he was on duty and in full uniform.
At the time he was serving a suspended sentence for a previous drunk driving conviction.
Masondo, a policeman of 23 years, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on Monday for drunken as well as reckless and negligent driving after he collided with a vehicle, injuring a 7-year-old child.
Durban magistrate Mike Lasich ordered that his driving licence be suspended, and that he surrender himself at Westville prison within 10 working days of receipt of a notice from the court, to the effect that his appeal against the conviction had either been struck from the roll or was unsuccessful.
The crash happened in February 2012 in Durban.
“He failed to stop at the red traffic lights at the intersection of Pine Street and Shepstone Road, and collided into a motor vehicle, causing severe injuries and extensive damage to vehicles and occupants,” State advocate, Ranie Pillay, said.
She said Masondo had previously been found guilty of driving under the influence, in 2003 and 2008.
In 2003, he was found guilty of drunk driving, in Bellair, Durban, for which he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, or a R5 000 fine. Half of this sentence was suspended for five years.
In 2008, he was found guilty after he was caught driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding .31g in Ladysmith.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for five years.
The court heard on Monday that Masondo was still serving the suspended five years when he committed the same offence for the third time in 2012, this time injuring someone and damaging private property.
The court was told that Masondo was on duty and in full uniform when he was caught driving drunk.
Masondo pleaded guilty to reckless and negligent driving but not guilty to the charge of drunken driving.
He admitted however that he had a previous drunk driving conviction and a pending matter on a charge of extortion in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court to be heard next week.
Daily News