Azwindini Nelson Ramatsea, a police official and a member of the blue light brigade, was prosecuted by the Boksburg Magistrates Court for reckless and negligent driving.
On July 15, 2011, Ramatsea drove into Rina Bowie’s vehicle at the corner of North Rand and Rondebult roads.
The accused was allegedly on his way to the OR Tambo Airport, with his blue lights flashing, to fetch the then MEC for Health, Ntombi Mekgwe.
The traffic lights for Bowie had turned green, and as she entered the intersection, Ramatsea drove into her vehicle, causing approximately R30 000 in damage.
The accused pleaded not-guilty on April 4, but was found guilty and sentenced on July 19, to R6 000 or six months imprisonment.
Magistrate Emmanuelle Magampa presided over the matter, and Angeline Moolman appeared on behalf of the State.
“Members of the ‘so-called’ blue light brigade are not considered emergency vehicles for purposes of transporting an individual to an airport or a meeting. They cannot in the process disregard traffic laws by merely having a blue light and siren switched on,” says Henk Strydom, senior public prosecutor at the Boksburg Magistrates Court.
“All emergency vehicles including SAPS or traffic vehicles must be driven with due consideration for other motorists, even in an emergency when blue lights and the siren switched on.
“A response to an emergency does not allow any driver of such vehicle to disregard the safety of other road users in the process of getting to the scene.”
