The son of Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula smelled of liquor when he allegedly drove into oncoming traffic and caused a head-on collision earlier this year, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday.
Siyabonga Nqakula was also unsteady on his feet, the victim, Yaseen Moses, told the court.
Nqakula (27), of Bruma in Johannesburg, pleaded not guilty before magistrate Phindi Norman to charges of drunken driving and reckless driving.
Moses told the court he was driving home with his wife, Shahieda, late on the night of March 29 in Salt River when Nqakula, driving in the opposite direction, suddenly swerved into their lane.
Moses said he hooted and flashed his bright headlights at Nqakula, who failed to respond. Nqakula then smashed head-on into Moses’s car, the court heard.
Moses said the car he was driving was a write-off. The car belonged to his wife but was still registered in the name of his wife’s brother. Because the car was insured in the brother’s name, a claim for a new car was rejected.
Although they no longer had the car, Moses’s wife was still paying it off, Moses said.
The case continues on Tuesday. — Sapa