MINISTER NDEBELE GOES AFTER DRUNKEN FEMALE KILLER DRIVER

In highly unusual move, the Minister of Transport Sibusiso “S’bu” Ndebele has ordered lawyers in his department to pursue a woman who was found guilty of culpable homicide but has received a suspended 5-year prison sentence. The woman called Nicolette Goss, had been drinking when she drove into a concrete block which killed 11 year-old Thabani Mngadi and injured twins Mhlengi and Phumelela Ngobese (now 15), as well as Nomnotho Kweyama (also 15 now).

Goss, a former Pinetown police reservist was found guilty of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving. Her sentence, passed on by a KwaZulu-Natal magistrate’s court, is suspended for 5 years. She also received 3 years of house arrest, 16 hours of community service for each month of the 3 years, and a suspended driving licence.

“We are of the view that the sentence imposed on Ms Nicolette Goss is not commensurate with her conduct and must be reviewed,” said Minister Ndebele. “For offences such as speeding, the courts have imposed heftier sentences including fines of more than R100 000. We have therefore instructed our legal team to engage the National Prosecuting Authority on this sentence and to also bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Justice. Drunk driving is a major contributory factor to road crashes and road deaths in South Africa. It is for this reason that the Department of Transport is considering a total ban on alcohol use for drivers. As of this month (May 2011), no less than 10 000 drivers will be screened every month for drinking and driving.”