KWAZULU-NATAL Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has said a mindshift change is needed before the beginning of the so-called ‘silly season’.

The MEC is pleading with residents and visitors to have a rethink about potentially fatal conduct such as drinking and driving and having unprotected sex, all in the name of ‘festive season fun’.

“We’re pleading with the public, let us have fun responsibly. Let’s have fun in a guarded way. Let’s not go overboard. Let’s not abuse alcohol. Those who drink must do so within a limit, and those who don’t drink, now is not the time to start.”

MEC Simelane says drinking and driving should be a no for everyone and, in order to stay alive, revellers attending year-end parties, or enjoying themselves at trendy restaurants, should consider using a designated driver system, or e-hailing transport services.

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“To those who drink, you can have a designated driver – the person who won’t be drinking on the night. To those who go partying together, do not allow a drunk person to drive you back home. Let us protect ourselves and behave responsibly because when you drive while under the influence of alcohol, there’s a very high possibility that you might harm not only yourself, but us who don’t drink, who are not in the car with you and were not drinking with you.

“Your actions might end up affecting many families. When such incidents happen, it affects us severely as the Department of Health because we end up with full hospital beds and a heavier workload on our healthcare professionals, just because someone decided to drink and get on the road.”

The MEC also called on the public to seek alternative dispute-resolution methods rather than resorting to confrontations and acts of road rage and fights, as these could easily turn deadly.

“Let’s not fight and harm each other because then people start dying, and many of them end up in our casualty wards with stabbings and gunshot wounds. All of that is usually as a result of overboard drinking, so we are pleading with fellow compatriots not to do that. Let’s have fun within limitations, so that we’re all still around to usher in the new year.”