The KwaZulu-Natal Justice Cluster Technical Committee has identified a need to call for an amendment to the national law so that drivers’ licence removal becomes mandatory for drunken driving convictions, MEC Willies Mchunu has announced.
Mchunu was speaking at the launch of the 2010 Easter Road Safety Campaign. He said the Technical Team he formed in December last year contends that if we repeal Section 35. (3) of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996, Chapter IV: under the section Fitness of drivers, life of drunkards will be tough.
In effect this means suspension, endorsement or cancellation of one’s drivers’ licence becomes a compulsory part of the sentence if an accused is found guilty of drunken driving.
The Technical Team also contends that as we move towards mandatory sentencing for drunken driving, we must also move away, province wide, then country wide, to breath testing for suspected drunk driving suspects, effectively leaving behind blood testing and all its attendant problems.
“We support this proposal. We will lobby extensively to have the relevant amendments effected and ready for the 2010 festive season,” Mchunu said. “I am told that the Western Cape Traffic authorities already support us in this matter”, he added
“We have also asked this team to further investigate all the latest technological advances that can be used to reign in on drunkenness. Once the task team makes it final report, a summit of all affected stakeholders will be convened to ensure maximum input and finality on this matter,” he said.
In the meantime, all RTI officers have been instructed to be relentless in their pursuit of drunkards. We will arrest and throw their car keys away.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
31 March 2010
