Drunk driving crackdown: 54 motorists, including a public prosecutor, arrested in KwaZulu-Natal
A 44-year-old female public prosecutor was among 54 motorists arrested for drunk driving on Friday night in KwaZulu-Natal.
The arrest formed part of a provincial crackdown on road fatalities linked to binge drinking.
The public prosecutor was apprehended at 11pm on R620 Marine Drive in Margate, Port Shepstone. It was believed she had a breath alcohol reading of 0.83mg/L, which is four times over the legal limit.
The Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) team, described as “highly dedicated and efficient,” conducted the arrest.
In a statement released by MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma expressed that the “Zero Tolerance, No Nonsense and Alufakwa campaign” remains the primary strategy in the battle against drinking and driving.
He said he hopes the high-profile arrest will “ignite a conversation around the contribution of the legal fraternity in curbing road fatalities caused by binge drinking”.
The MEC highlighted the devastating impact of alcohol, noting that it is “ravaging families, creating orphans – widows and leaving a trail of destruction”.
Studies indicate that alcohol use is linked to 62,300 deaths and an economic burden of more than R433 billion in South Africa.
The RTI’s efforts have been significant, with more than 130 motorists arrested for drunk driving over the past two weeks alone. Friday night’s operations resulted in the arrest of 54 motorists across various regions. The breakdown of arrests is as follows:
- Durban – 21
- Pietermaritzburg – 18
- Ladysmith – 14
- Empangeni – 1
MEC Duma acknowledged that the Department of Transport and Human Settlements “alone has no chance of dealing a permanent blow on road accidents caused by drinking and driving”. He stressed the imperative for collective action, stating, “We must work together to save the nation from a pervasive binge-drinking culture”.
IOL