Ninety one motorists including a North West University Professor, an Eskom engineer and several taxi drivers were arrested for drunken driving by North West Public Safety traffic officers in the Klerksdorp and Orkney over the weekend.
Not even the heavy weekend rains dampened the determination of the drunken driving special operations team that set up 17 roving roadblocks in the area. The team screened 407 drivers for drunken driving. Three hundred and fifteen drivers passed the tests although some smelled of liquor. The arrested motorists were above the legal alcohol limit of 0.02 (public motor vehicles) and 0,05 mg per 100ml of blood (ordinary private vehicles).Their arrest brings to 237,the number of motorists arrested for drunken driving since provincial traffic authorities embarked on the drunken driving special operations last ago.
North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa says the operation will be intensified and a zero tolerance towards drunken driving and reckless driving adopted for motorists who are expected to attend the annual 60’s bash to be held at Monare Farm outside Mafikeng.
“Those who intend misbehaving on our roads as they drive to and from the bash should be rest assured that they will end up in jail. We are more than ready for them this time around, moretlwa o tlile go ba lelela, die poppe sal-Dans,” vows MEC Yawa.
Motorists are advised to take along a non-drinker with a valid driver’s license to drive their vehicles back from the bash.
Enquiries: Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: (018) 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Public Safety, North West Provincial Government
30 November 2009
