Drunk driving crackdown in Durban: 357 arrested in police blitz
A firm stance against drunk driving: RTI officers apprehended 48 motorists in KwaMashu.
Image: Facebook/ KZN Department of Transport
A total of 357 motorists were apprehended for drunk driving in Durban at the weekend.
The motorists were arrested in joint operations involving the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), Durban Metro Police Service and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport said the #NenzaniLaEzweni (what are you doing?) operation is intensifying with the RTI protecting innocent road users.
KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said: “The RTI team is very firm and decisive against drunk driving.”
Duma said 115 motorists were arrested on Friday, 127 on Saturday and 115 on Sunday.
The following arrests were made on Sunday:
- 49 - Durban Central
- 40 - Newlands East
- 26 - Ntuzuma
Duma detailed the Friday and Saturday breakdown as:
- 45 - uMhlanga - Oceans Mall
- 48 - KwaMashu
- 34 - KwaDabeka
- 33 - Inanda
- 30 - Umbilo
- 30 - Durban Central
“We pay tribute to Durban Metro and SAPS for working in partnership with RTI as part of cleaning up our road networks,” Duma said.
The department detailed some of the motorists’ professions, noting that the RTI team apprehended five teachers, two safety officers, a police official and an actor.
Duma praised the RTI, Durban Metro Police, and SAPS for their joint efforts in cleaning up KwaMashu.
Unexpected turn: A priest was among 35 motorists arrested for drunk driving in Newcastle.
Image: Facebook/ KZN Department of Transport
Meanwhile, in Newcastle, a priest was among 35 motorists arrested for drunk driving.
The department said that when the RTI team asked #NenzaniLaEzweni, the priest reminded the team that “they will go to heaven one day”, and that “you must behave yourselves nicely and not commit a sin as God will punish you harshly”.
“The priest quoted from the Bible. The RTI team listened attentively and arrested him politely after he had just finished,” the department said.
Others arrested included a police officer, a teacher, a paramedic, two taxi drivers, a bus driver, a technician, a public relations officer, a commercial underwriter, an engineer, a security guard, and a community representative.