JMPD warns arrests alone will not curb drunk driving in Midrand
Data shows most alcohol-related arrests happen between 20:00 and 23:00, with Midrand ranking high for driving under the influence.
Arrests alone will not be enough to improve road safety without public education and community collaboration, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla has warned.
Speaking to the media at the South African Breweries (SAB) responsible drinking engagement in Midrand on October 8, Fihla said collaboration, public education, and data-driven enforcement were essential to reducing alcohol-related road fatalities and protecting all road users.
Read more: Residents confront police and government over crime at packed Ivory Park imbizo
According to the South African Police Service’s first-quarter crime statistics for the 2026/27 financial year, covering April to June 2026, Midrand Police Station ranked fourth in Gauteng and sixth nationally for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Reported cases in this category declined by 13.2% compared with the previous reporting period.
Fihla said more than 26 000 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in Johannesburg between 2023 and the end of 2025, averaging approximately 9 000 arrests annually.
“This shows that it is a really, really big problem,” he said, adding that enforcement needed to be supported by education and changes in driver behaviour.
Also read: Midrand police investigate murder of female security officer at training centre
Fihla said data gathered from arrests showed that most drunk-driving arrests occurred between 18:00 and midnight, particularly between 20:00 and 23:00.
Motorists aged between 25 and 40 accounted for the highest number of arrests, while male motorists remained the majority, with an increase in arrests involving women also observed.
He said the information helped JMPD identify high-risk areas and deploy officers and roadblocks more strategically.
Through its partnership with SAB and parent company AB InBev, JMPD received support for alcohol evidence centres and mobile units used at roadblocks to strengthen enforcement and help remove intoxicated drivers from the roads.
Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!
