In a significant pre-festive season clampdown, law enforcement authorities in KwaZulu-Natal arrested over 100 motorists for drunk driving during a single night of operations in Newcastle.
The mass arrests were conducted by officers from the provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate as part of the “Alufakwa-Zero Tolerance and No Nonsense” campaign. The initiative is a central part of the province’s broader strategy to rid its roads of intoxicated drivers, a critical move ahead of the festive period, which is historically marred by road fatalities often linked to alcohol consumption.
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC, Siboniso Duma, provided detailed insight into the operation and the province’s strategic approach. He revealed that the precise number of arrests in Newcastle was 124.
“Already in one night, 124 motorists were taken into custody. As a result of that, the majority of them were drunk while they were driving,” MEC Duma stated.
He explained that the operations are a direct response to internal research showing most crashes occur between 6 p.m. on Fridays and midnight. The Newcastle operation followed a successful pilot in the uMzinyathi municipality.
The MEC highlighted the multi-departmental nature of the crackdown, which involves the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Health, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He emphasized that having health department nurses on-site to conduct blood tests is a critical component for building legally sound cases.
“We consulted an approach… I wrote a letter and we sat down with MEC for Health, pleading that at all times whenever we’re going to have these processes, a team from the Department of Health must be there physically because after 4 hours you can’t just prove that beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” Duma said, addressing concerns about cases collapsing due to evidential issues.
When questioned on the capacity to sustain such intensive enforcement, MEC Duma pointed to recent logistical investments. He announced that on October 30th, the department dispatched 177 new traffic inspectors to be deployed across various regions to increase visibility.
The enforcement strategy is also broader than just drunk driving. Duma revealed that during the Newcastle operations, four individuals were also arrested for gender-based violence (GBV), demonstrating the wide net cast by the joint operations.
Outlining the plan for the coming months, MEC Duma stated that roadblocks would be intensified on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays across the province.
“We are too bad. We are always physically on the road these days,” he said, adding that technology and even helicopters would be utilized during the festive season for rapid response and monitoring.
The ultimate goal, according to the MEC, is a fundamental change in driver behavior. He urged motorists to use alternative transport like Uber, taxis, or designated drivers if they plan to consume alcohol.
“Don’t go into the steering wheel… you are responsible for many people,” Duma implored. “It is our duty that these roadblocks are just a deterrent of some sort.”
With KwaZulu-Natal consistently recording some of the country’s highest road fatality rates during December, the provincial government is signaling an unprecedented level of enforcement aimed at ensuring this year’s holiday period is safer for all road users.