Cele calls on officers to be tough on reckless behaviour brought by alcohol
Police Minister Bheki Cele has called on law enforcers to be tough on reckless behaviour brought on by alcohol, following the death of three Tshwane metro police officers killed in a head-on collision with a suspected drunk driver over the weekend.
The collision took place in Pretoria West during a police chase. A driver allegedly failed to stop when ordered to do so after being spotted as driving erratically, Pretoria Rekord reports.
Cele said the three officers in the vehicle and the suspected drunk driver all died on the scene.
A female passenger, who was travelling with the alleged drunk driver, is recovering in hospital. Cele said inside the vehicle of the alleged drunk driver, empty and full bottles of alcohol were found.
The minister sent his condolences to the families of the deceased officers and at the same time denounced the reckless behaviour that has led to the senseless loss of life.
“The lives of these young officers were cut short by a man who chose to drink and act irresponsibly. While the alcohol ban has been lifted under lockdown level 2, it remains the responsibility of those who consume alcohol to do so, without putting themselves and those around them in danger. If alcohol was consumed at home as per the government’s directive, the loss of lives could have been avoided.”
Cele has also reminded South Africans that a 22:00 curfew is still in place.
“While this incident is a great loss to the metro police department, police officers will continue in their numbers, to enforce the law and clamp down hard, especially on reckless behaviour brought on by alcohol abuse.”
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