Eastern Cape Provincial Traffic officers arrested 109 motorists for driving under the influence during a coordinated weekend crackdown, including a government official caught driving a state vehicle while intoxicated.
The arrests were made during intensive enforcement operations conducted across the province from Friday, 21 November to Sunday, 23 November.
Among those arrested was a government official found driving a state vehicle under the influence on the N2 near Kei Cuttings.
According to a statement, the incident occurred close to the scene of a recent fatal crash that claimed the life of an Eastern Cape Department of Transport official.
“Our officers have shown unwavering dedication to protecting lives. Their work this past weekend is exemplary and deserves our full gratitude,” said MEC for Transport Xolile Nqatha. “Each arrest is a life potentially saved and this reinforces the critical role of enforcement as we head into the Festive Season.”
Nqatha added that traffic enforcement would be applied equally regardless of the offender’s status. “Drunken driving is a danger to all – and we will not hesitate to act, regardless of who is behind the wheel.”
The Eastern Cape Department of Transport strongly condemned the government official’s conduct, reiterating that no individual is above the law when it comes to road safety violations.
The weekend operations form part of the department’s Festive Season Road Safety Plan, designed to reduce traffic fatalities and discourage dangerous driving behaviours on major routes and accident hotspots throughout the province.
The department indicated that similar enforcement operations will continue throughout the festive season as part of ongoing efforts to protect motorists and pedestrians across Eastern Cape roads.
