Durban - Thrill seeking speed freaks who have caused death and destruction on Durban streets are not expected to be deterred by court-imposed fines, such as those handed down on two young motorists last week.
Malcolm Naidoo, 27, who works as a chef, and Sershin Reddy, 22, who owns a construction business, were fined and tasked with doing 80 hours of community service after they were caught racing their Seat Ibiza cars on Chris Hani (North Coast) Road in September.
They were charged with reckless driving and pleaded guilty in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.
Last Wednesday, Naidoo, of Durban North, was ordered to pay a fine of R20000, of which R13000 was suspended for five years, while Reddy was ordered to pay R20000, half of which was suspended for five years. Their driving licences were not suspended.
Magistrate Melanie De Jager told the accused they were playing a seriously dangerous game.
“You may race five, 10, 20 times but there is going to come a time when something will happen. You may die in an accident because of your stupidity and irresponsibility. How will your parents cope?
“You may kill five people, a family’s breadwinner or a child. Will you be able to live with yourself? Drag racers are a nuisance to the community and the sentence, as well as what was said in court today, will serve as deterrent for anyone who chooses to indulge in such illegal activity,” De Jager said in a stern message to drag racers.
But the area’s ward councillor, Bobby Maharaj, of Redhill, said the fine was a slap on the wrist.
“A mere fine is a minor dent in the pockets of these youngsters. The fact that their licences were not suspended is outrageous. They are free to go back on the roads and endanger lives and interrupt the peace of the community,” he said. “Is this the message we are sending?”
Greenwood Park CPF chairperson Robin Candy said no matter how many times the police disrupted races, the drivers would find new spots.
“However, this does not mean we should give up,” said Candy.
Metro Police Acting Superintendent Kasey Naicker told the court that racing was prevalent on Tuesdays and weekends from 11pm until the early hours of the morning.
The hotspots included Umgeni Road, Chris Hani Road, Rinaldo Road in Durban North and Chamberlain Road, south of Durban.
“These illegal drag races are based on a ‘need for speed’ or a ‘catch-me-if-you-can attitude’. When we arrive at the scene, there are large crowds of people, sometimes hundreds, and only 10 to 15 officers.”
The situation, he said, could become volatile.
Senior prosecutor Roshiela Benimadho said racing had become a scourge in communities and that illegal street racers had hopped from spot to spot “hijacking roads” and causing chaos and mayhem.
The State, she said, wanted a hefty fine coupled with a suspended sentence and their licences suspended.
Defence attorney Sunil Singh said his clients had no previous convictions, no medical conditions and at the time of arrest accepted what they did was wrong.
“All youth go through a phase. However, they have accepted they were driving recklessly from the onset thus pleading guilty. There were also no modifications done on their vehicles.”
Metro Police spokesperson Parboo Sewpersad said the police would be out in full force to eliminate illegal drag racing and bring errant racers to book.
“We have numerous operation plans in place to clamp down on such activities. There will be stop and searches, speed timing and a crackdown on modified vehicles, among many other operations.”