Seventeen people were arrested across KZN yesterday following a series of law enforcement operations linked to the province’s Easter road safety and anti-crime campaign.

The Witness reports that, according to provincial authorities, five motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, while 12 others were taken into custody for outstanding warrants of arrest.

Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said KZN had recorded the highest number of road-related arrests in the country during the period.

The operations came a day after the department, in partnership with MTN, launched Ummemezi Wezimoto, a crime-recognition software aimed at identifying suspicious vehicles and individuals during roadside stops.

By yesterday afternoon, officials reported further arrests of individuals attempting to pass themselves off as law-abiding motorists.

Duma confirmed that more than 6 800 vehicles had been stopped and checked. “We have impounded 25 vehicles, intercepted 45 unlicensed ones, and identified 55 motorists driving without valid licences. All matters are being handled by RTI [Road Traffic Inspectorate] teams on the ground,” he said.

He added that the campaign had already shown results. “In the same period last year, the province recorded 13 crashes and 14 fatalities. This year, there have been fewer than four crashes and, remarkably, no fatalities.”

During a site inspection from Maritzburg Christian Church to eThekwini Community Church, Duma and his team stopped to assist stranded worshippers from the Galile Apostolic Church in Zion, whose hired minibus had broken down along the N3 near Ashburton.

“Our highly efficient [RTI] team, which was on patrol at the time, immediately stepped in to assist,” said Duma.

“I want to commend the driver for remaining calm and preventing what could have been a tragic accident, especially considering the vehicle had come to a stop in front of oncoming trucks.”

Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel.

Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.