Video: Cops, officials among 95 arrested in KZN drunk-driving blitz
High-profile arrests, dramatic chases and the detention of public servants highlighted the scale and seriousness of KZN roadblocks aimed at curbing alcohol-related crashes.
The KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) says its weekend crackdown on drunk driving yielded significant results, with dozens of motorists arrested across the province on Saturday evening.
The Witness reports that Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the crackdown in the form of co-ordinated roadblocks and patrols in various districts resulted in 95 arrests for driving under the influence.
In Stanger, officers arrested 39 motorists, including two police officers, one from Gauteng. The group comprised 37 men and two women, said Duma.
In Newcastle, 36 motorists were taken into custody. Among them were one senior municipal official, three teachers, and one nurse, highlighting what RTI described as the indiscriminate nature of the enforcement operation.
In Port Shepstone, 20 motorists were arrested.
MEC Duma said one of those detained was a Gauteng-based motorist who is also a government service provider with tenders valued in the billions of rands. The arrests in Port Shepstone included seven women and 13 men.
He said the Port Shepstone incident underscored the seriousness of the operation.
The motorist allegedly drove recklessly into oncoming traffic, ignored four red traffic lights, fled from RTI officers, and attempted to evade arrest by hiding inside a house.
“This chase and arrest of the service provider is a clear indication that we are determined to restore law and order on our roads,” he said in a statement.
He said the situation escalated when relatives of the suspect attempted to confront RTI officers.
A female RTI officer and a colleague, who were involved in the initial chase, called for backup, prompting the arrival of additional RTI members and the SAPS. The standoff was resolved without further incident.
Duma reiterated his warning that no one is above the law, regardless of profession or status, and confirmed that the #NenzaniLaEzweni operations will continue across KZN as part of efforts to curb drunk driving and improve road safety.
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Read original story on witness.co.za
