Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

A top Mpumalanga politician facing charges of assault, drunken and reckless driving yesterday left the court building through a rear entrance to avoid the media.

Journalists gathered outside the Nelspruit magistrates' court where Jimmy Mohlala, the speaker for Mbombela municipality, appeared to face the charges.

Mohlala is accused of crashing his 4x4 bakkie into another car while driving on the wrong side of the N4 highway outside Nelspruit on June 29.

After the accident, he allegedly assaulted a policeman who tried to take blood samples from him.

He was never asked to plead and was released on warning. The case was postponed to August 14.

Vusi Sibiya, spokesman for the Mbombela municipality, said the municipality distances itself from the matter as it happened after working hours and was not work- related.

Paul Mbenyane, a provincial ANC spokesman, said they had noted with regret reports that Mohlala was bust for drunken driving.

"We are confident that the legal processes will ensure that justice prevails in Mohlala's case," said Mbenyane