The City of Cape Town says its officers have arrested 44 motorists for drunk driving in the past week.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security, JP Smith, says this is three times higher than the previous week, when only 13 drivers were arrested.

He says officers also confiscated hundreds of units of alcohol on beaches.

“The amount of alcohol confiscated is of concern, particularly as we’ve highlighted time and again that it is illegal to consume alcohol in public spaces, but also the potential consequences of driving or swimming under the influence. Fortunately, there were no major incidents reported during the valedictory celebrations. On the roads, we witnessed once again the spike in drunk driving that has become commonplace over payday and month-end weekends. It’s mind-boggling, considering the many other options that are available. I want to remind motorists and the public in general that a good time and good decisions are not mutually exclusive.”