KZN Transport MEC reports decline in road fatalities amid crackdown on drunk driving, other offences
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport says there has been a decline in road fatalities as it ramps down its operations to tackle reckless and illegal conduct of motorists on the roads.
The department said in a statement that, with close to a thousand people being arrested for serious offences including drunk driving in recent roadblocks across the province, it was noticing a decline in road fatalities.
MEC Siboniso Duma said, “Months ago, I gave our highly efficient team from the Road Traffic Inspectorate a mandate to be firm against those who are turning our road networks into killing fields.”
“We wish to report that since the August 15, more than 896 motorists have been arrested for drunk driving.
“By and large, these reckless drivers were removed from our road networks before they could kill other innocent road users. We therefore attribute the dramatic decrease in road fatalities in KZN to the success of Alufakwa – the Zero Tolerance and No-nonsense campaign,” said the MEC.
The department noted successes from this past weekend – from Friday evening to Sunday at 2pm:
- 274 total number of motorists were arrested for drunk driving in Newcastle alone.
- A male driver was arrested in the Madadeni area with an alcohol content level eight times over the legal limit.
- A minibus taxi driver was arrested in Madadeni with an alcohol content level seven times over the legal limit.
- 47 motorists were arrested in Verulam – R102 Ottawa Road for drunk driving.
Duma stated, “In particular, for the Newcastle operation, we worked well with National Traffic Police, SAPS Amajuba Cluster, Newcastle Local Traffic, and nurses from the district as assigned by the MEC for Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi.”
“In order to ensure successful prosecution, we have strengthened our enduring partnership with the Justice Department and Constitutional Development.”
He said, “During the first week of November, we will give a detailed progress report and outcome of court cases involving the 896 motorists arrested for drunk driving.”
“Importantly, we have taken a decision to ensure mass arrests of drunk drivers over the next few weeks until the festive season and beyond.”
“In this regard, we have ordered more than 2,500 blood/alcohol testing kits to be used. Our message is very clear—drink, drive, and earn yourself a criminal record. You also stand a good chance of spending 48 hours before being granted bail, in holding cells with hardened criminals,” the MEC warned.