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Durban - The minibus taxi driver found guilty of knocking down South African Olympic cyclist Burry Stander, 25, was sentenced to three years in jail at the Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, the Mercury reported.
Njabulo Nyawose, who was found guilty of culpable homicide, hit Stander as he was cycling along Marine Drive towards Port Shepstone from Shelly Beach in January 2013.
Nyawose had reportedly been travelling south on Marine Drive when the taxi he was driving moved into the northbound lane and turned right into Scott Street.
Magistrate Charmaine Barnard reportedly said Nyawose acted with gross negligence when he turned his taxi over a solid line.
“The accused showed a wilful disregard for a traffic sign in a congested road and overtook vehicles in front of him,” said Barnard.
Nyawose was sentenced to six years, with three years suspended for five years on condition that he was not convicted of culpable homicide in the period of suspension, according to the report.
On the charge that he failed to obey a traffic sigh, Barnard reportedly imposed a fine of R5 000 or three months in prison. The magistrate found that the cyclist had not been negligent in his actions. She also cancelled Nyawose’s licence.
“South Africa is poorer for his loss,” said Barnard.
