11 Aug 2015

Magistrate Lindiwe Makgoro has fined Letukile Mmereki P15 000 for causing death by dangerous driving. Mmereki was ordered to pay the fine by August 2015 or face imprisonment for five years.

He was also barred from obtaining a driver’s licence, including a learner’s within two years. Mmereki caused death and injured nine passengers in February 2015 along the Thamaga-Kubung road.

He was driving from Thamaga to Kubung when he lost control of his motor vehicle which overturned at Ntleleletlhere lands. Mmereki had no driver’s licence, and the vehicle he was driving was loaded with corrugated iron sheets, bricks and 10 passengers.

Delivering the sentence, Magistrate Makgoro said the convict was a danger to other road users, as the vehicle he was driving was heavily loaded. She, however, acknowledged that Mmereki was remorseful and pleaded guilty to the charges.

In his mitigation, Mmereki pleaded with the court to be lenient, saying he was not working and has a child that he was taking care of. He asked the court to sentence him to a fine as he could request contributions from relatives.

He also apologised for the incident. He said he does not know what made him to drive without a licence. He promised the court that it would never happen again. Mmereki has the right to appeal the sentence within 30 days at the high court. ENDS