Eastern Cape provincial traffic special operations task team completed its 20 month task on a high note this weekend by arresting 108 drunk drivers in Nelson Mandela Bay.
The arrested drivers included Umhlobo Wenene FM Current Affairs Presenter, Patrick Dalindyebo. The highest reading was that of a taxi driver, who was 12 times over the limit with a reading of 1.27mg/l, instead of 0.10mg/l. Since June 2010, the total of drunken driving arrests in Port Elizabeth is 525.
As instructed by MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Ghishma Barry, last week, the task team will officially disband on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 and all members will leave Port Elizabeth to their respective districts.
This follows their successful operations during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they worked with the 39 Straundale based provincial traffic officers and more than 200 Nelson Mandela Bay Metro traffic officers.
During the tournament, these traffic law enforcement officers conducted various activities, which included reduction of delays through traffic control, escorting FIFA family, teams and sponsors to and from the airports, hotels, stadium and fan festivals.
Since 2008, the task team recorded a number of successes, which included:
- arrest of more than 5 000 people for drunken driving
- issuing of 46 828 summonses worth R25 333 847
- suspension of 2 286 vehicles, including public transport vehicles
- confiscation of 220 misused government vehicles
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 44 22 388
