DPP mulls Yengeni’s drunk driving charges

Feebearing - Cape Town - 140603 - African National Congress (ANC) national executive member, Tony Yengeni appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge of drunken driving. The case was postponed to the 12th of August. Pictured: Tony Yengeni in a grey suite leaving the Cape Town Magistrates court. REPORTER: DANEEL KNOETZE. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Feebearing - Cape Town - 140603 - African National Congress (ANC) national executive member, Tony Yengeni appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge of drunken driving. The case was postponed to the 12th of August. Pictured: Tony Yengeni in a grey suite leaving the Cape Town Magistrates court. REPORTER: DANEEL KNOETZE. PICTURE: WILLEM LAW.

Published Jan 28, 2015

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Cape Town - ANC national executive committee member Tony Yengeni will have to wait another few months to find out whether his drunk driving charges will be withdrawn, the Cape Town Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.

Yengeni, dressed in a smart suit, took off his baseball cap when he entered court 13.

The court heard that the director of public prosecutions (DPP) had communicated with the national director of public prosecutions and that the State was awaiting an outcome.

The matter was postponed until April 8 for feedback on the charges.

Yengeni's R500 bail was extended.

Yengeni last appeared in November, when he was told that the DPP was still considering his written representations.

Yengeni has not yet pleaded to charges of drunk driving and reckless or negligent driving.

As an alternative to the drunk driving charge, Yengeni allegedly drove with a blood-alcohol level of 0.25 percent, five times the legal limit of 0.05.

Yengeni was arrested in August 2013 after City of Cape Town law enforcement officials saw him allegedly driving his Maserati erratically in the Cape Town CBD.

In a statement issued after his arrest, the city's safety and security mayoral committee member JP Smith said Yengeni had been one of 52 people arrested during a weekend operation.

Smith alleged that at least one of Yengeni's car number plates was missing at the time.

He said a screening device indicated Yengeni was substantially over the blood alcohol level.

For this reason Yengeni was taken to the “shadow centre” for a blood sample to be taken and sent for analysis.

In 2007, Yengeni was arrested in Goodwood, Cape Town, on a charge of drunk driving, but was found not guilty. - Sapa

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