JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - A man was fined nearly 300 dollars (250 euros) for drunk driving a donkey cart in a small South African town and then telling police he was unconcerned "because the animals knew the way home."
Hans du Toit was stopped recently in the town of Philipolis, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of Johannesburg, when traffic officials noticed his donkey cart swerving all over its one main road.
He was told not to continue driving, the Afrikaans daily Beeld newspaper said on Wednesday.
"But when the policeman left, I decided: 'I know this road and so does my donkeys. If I don't find it, my donkeys will," Du Toit said in a statement before court.
"The drive was a bit haphazard and I was stopped again by the police," he added.
Du Toit's wife was called and she unleashed the animals.
Traffic officials and the court took a stern view and sentenced Du Toit to the fine or two years in jail, of which 21 months were suspended for four years.
Hans du Toit was stopped recently in the town of Philipolis, about 650 kilometres (400 miles) south of Johannesburg, when traffic officials noticed his donkey cart swerving all over its one main road.
He was told not to continue driving, the Afrikaans daily Beeld newspaper said on Wednesday.
"But when the policeman left, I decided: 'I know this road and so does my donkeys. If I don't find it, my donkeys will," Du Toit said in a statement before court.
"The drive was a bit haphazard and I was stopped again by the police," he added.
Du Toit's wife was called and she unleashed the animals.
Traffic officials and the court took a stern view and sentenced Du Toit to the fine or two years in jail, of which 21 months were suspended for four years.
