Publications
Partners
Back on February 19 2013 Wheels24 reported that Durban businessman Sifiso Zulu would be released from prison and indeed, on February 25, he walked out of Pietermaritzburg's Serfontein Prison.
He had served only nine months - one quarter! - of a three-year sentence for killing two people.
Correctional Services officials said Zulu would be subjected to a curfew (6pm-6am) at his home and would not be allowed to drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. He would be expected to find a job or return to running his businesses.
Does all that sound horribly familiar?
CLOSE EYE ON A KILLER
Zulu would also be subjected to random tests, as well as a minimum four visits a month to his home, and another at his workplace by prison authorities.
In 2008 Zulu drove his BMW X5 through a red traffic light and crashed into a bakkie, killing two and injuring eight others people. He lied, saying he was not the driver, and somebody else looked like taking the blame.
kwaZulu-Natal Correctional Services commissioner Mnikelwa Nxele said Zulu had applied for special remission of his 36-month sentence because he was in a group of prisoners countrywide who benefited from an 18-month remission of sentence announced by president Jacob Zuma.
JUSTICE IN ACTION?
Nxele said: "When he arrived in prison the president (Zuma) had just announced that all prisoners would be given a six-month remission of sentence. Those who had committed non-violent crimes would get an additional 12 months."
Zulu, 42, the former head of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, was convicted in April 2010. A court found that in March 2008, while driving a BMW X5, he drove through a red traffic light and collided with a bakkie, killing two members of the Souls Harbour Church and injuring eight more. He was sentenced to five years' jail, two of which were suspended, and fined R7000 for various driving offences.
At the time of his sentencing kwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Willies Mchunu said: "We welcome Zulu's imprisonment. This is clear evidence that our courts are now taking seriously cases relating to transgressions of the road regulations. One can only hope that the finalisation of this long-dragging case will bring closure to families of the victims."
"We hope this case will be a lesson to all drivers to respect the rule of law."
Wheels24 reader Paulet Nel sent us this link where you can sign a petition to end carnage on our road by keeping killers such as Zulu behind bars. The petition is address to several ministers, among them transport minister Jeff Radebe.
Is this a lesson in justice as the MEC believes? Do you agree with the ruling? What about the families affected? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
He had served only nine months - one quarter! - of a three-year sentence for killing two people.
Correctional Services officials said Zulu would be subjected to a curfew (6pm-6am) at his home and would not be allowed to drink alcohol or take illegal drugs. He would be expected to find a job or return to running his businesses.
Does all that sound horribly familiar?
CLOSE EYE ON A KILLER
Zulu would also be subjected to random tests, as well as a minimum four visits a month to his home, and another at his workplace by prison authorities.
In 2008 Zulu drove his BMW X5 through a red traffic light and crashed into a bakkie, killing two and injuring eight others people. He lied, saying he was not the driver, and somebody else looked like taking the blame.
kwaZulu-Natal Correctional Services commissioner Mnikelwa Nxele said Zulu had applied for special remission of his 36-month sentence because he was in a group of prisoners countrywide who benefited from an 18-month remission of sentence announced by president Jacob Zuma.
JUSTICE IN ACTION?
Nxele said: "When he arrived in prison the president (Zuma) had just announced that all prisoners would be given a six-month remission of sentence. Those who had committed non-violent crimes would get an additional 12 months."
Zulu, 42, the former head of the Durban Chamber of Commerce, was convicted in April 2010. A court found that in March 2008, while driving a BMW X5, he drove through a red traffic light and collided with a bakkie, killing two members of the Souls Harbour Church and injuring eight more. He was sentenced to five years' jail, two of which were suspended, and fined R7000 for various driving offences.
At the time of his sentencing kwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Willies Mchunu said: "We welcome Zulu's imprisonment. This is clear evidence that our courts are now taking seriously cases relating to transgressions of the road regulations. One can only hope that the finalisation of this long-dragging case will bring closure to families of the victims."
"We hope this case will be a lesson to all drivers to respect the rule of law."
Wheels24 reader Paulet Nel sent us this link where you can sign a petition to end carnage on our road by keeping killers such as Zulu behind bars. The petition is address to several ministers, among them transport minister Jeff Radebe.
Is this a lesson in justice as the MEC believes? Do you agree with the ruling? What about the families affected? Email us and we'll publish your thoughts or use the Readers' Comments section below...
