Keep your cool. That’s the message from the authorities monitoring the roads in KwaZulu-Natal during the festive season as the number of road rage incidents surge in the province.
The Road Traffic Inspectorate, the MEC for Transport and the Metro Police have urged motorists to control their temper.
The warning comes as Thabani Gwala, a police officer from KwaSwayimane was killed in a road rage incident this week.
Gwala was shot dead by a 19-year-old in Oribi. The two were trying to overtake each other and then pulled off on the side of the road where they both argued before the 19-year-old shot the policeman.
This has resulted in law enforcement agencies being on high alert on all the national, provincial, and regional roads.
Siboniso Duma, provincial MEC for Transport and Human Settlement cautioned motorists, saying RTI has seen an increase in unruly behaviour on the roads and those found guilty will be arrested.
The Durban Metro Police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu said road urged motorists to be patient with one another on the roads.
Zungu noted that the causes of road rage incidents included motorists rushing on the roads, speeding, disobeying road rules, and drunk driving.
“This festive season we urge motorists to plan their trips well and give themselves time when they are travelling a long distance. If you know that you are taking a trip, wake up early so that you do not rush other drivers on the road,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Pietermaritzburg High Court this week dismissed an appeal by a police officer in which he killed a motorist in a road rage incident.
The police officer Sonwabo Daniel Bomvana was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Durban Regional Court, for the murder of M.J Dlangisa who he shot in April 2017 after they argued.
Bomvana was driving with his family on Noble Road, Berea when Dlangisa’s vehicle obstructed traffic. After some manoeuvering, Bomvana was able to pass Dlangisa’s stationary car.
He thereafter opened his window and exchanged words with Dlangisa causing him to pursue and obstruct Bomvana along Esther Roberts Road.
Once Dlangisa’s vehicle was stationary in front of Bomvana’s car, he exited his car and approached him. Bomvana opened fire and shot him.
"Bomvana claimed that the murder resulted from self-defense as Dlangisa was carrying a gun, however, when the police searched the deceased car there was no weapon.
Delivering his judgement acting Judge Griffiths Madonsela said Bomvana has changed from self defence to putative/ private defence. He reminded the court that there was a legal distinction between the two.
“Private or self-defence is available to any person who is a victim of unlawful attack (or threat of an attack) but uses force to repel such attack. That person is said to have acted in self or private defence. His or her action, of repelling an unlawful attack by use of force, is therefore lawful provided the defensive act is necessary to protect the threatened interest or is directed against the attacker and is reasonably proportionate to the attack.
Putative self or private defence, on the other hand, occurs where a person genuinely believes that he is acting lawfully when they are not,”
He said Bomvana failed to justify his acts between the two defences and therefore his appeal must fail.
On the appeal of his sentence, Madonsela said: “I do not consider that the sentence imposed was 'startling' or 'strikingly inappropriate' in the circumstances of this matter. The appeal against the sentence must also be dismissed.”
According to the latest crime stats 6, 545 cases of murder were recorded in the country. 1,069 stemmed from road rage incidents, arguments, misunderstandings or provocation.