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A weekend drunk driving blitz in Port Shepstone has seen 110 motorists arrested, including a doctor, three nurses, and a local councillor, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements confirmed on Sunday.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma released the figures in a media statement on Sunday morning, revealing a worrying trend of lawlessness on the province’s roads despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
“From the 55 motorists arrested by 00h15 this morning, the figure has increased to 66,” said Duma. “On Friday and Saturday morning, 44 drunk motorists were arrested. This means that the total number of arrests this weekend in Port Shepstone alone is now 110.”
Among those arrested are several professionals who, according to the MEC, “should display incredible understanding of the burden on our health system caused by alcohol-related road accidents.”
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“Disappointingly, a doctor, three nurses from Port Shepstone Regional Hospital, and a councillor are among the 66 motorists arrested,” he confirmed. “The doctor has been charged for escaping from lawful detention. He faces a fine or six to ten years in jail if found guilty.”
Duma added that a policeman from the Port Shepstone Police Station also escaped from custody and will face charges of escaping from lawful detention.
The MEC stressed the devastating impact of drunk driving on the province’s healthcare system and economy. “More than 60% of trauma cases are linked to horrific road accidents,” he said. “Available public records show that the estimated socio-economic cost of road accidents a year is about R164 billion, or about 3.4% of the country’s GDP.”
Read | Drunk Driver Busted After Offering Cops R200 to Look Away
He also highlighted the financial toll on the Road Accident Fund (RAF), which “paid out R22 billion in loss of income claims for the 2022/23 financial year.”
Despite the shocking figures, Duma praised the work of traffic law enforcement and police involved in the weekend’s operations. “We wish to salute our highly efficient, energetic, and dedicated RTI team; traffic officers from Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality and members of the South African Police Service from Port Shepstone Police Station. Collectively, the team managed to save innocent lives and prevent the destruction of families.”
He vowed that the crackdown on drunk driving would continue. “I have mandated the team to be firm and remove from our road network irresponsible and reckless motorists who are creating orphans, widows, and people living with disability,” Duma said.
The MEC also noted a growing public intolerance toward drunk driving. “We are encouraged by the public support of our efforts. Each day, we are realising that the majority of 12.5 million people in KwaZulu-Natal are prepared to unite and isolate this tiny minority of individuals who drink and drive.”
The total number of motorists arrested for drunk driving in the province since 15 August now stands at 399.
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[SRC] https://satrucker.co.za/doctor-nurses-and-councillor-among-66-nabbed-in-kzn-drunk-driving-blitz/
