End-of-snow parties end in arrests as KZN drunk-driving tally hits 6 549

Sixteen individuals were apprehended for drunk driving in Newcastle after end-of-snow celebrations across parts of KwaZulu-Natal. Transport Minister Siboniso Duma informed that the total count of motorists arrested for drunk driving under the province’s #NenzaniLaEzweni campaign now stands at 6,549 since its inception on August 15, 2025.

The arrested individuals included a taxi driver, union organizer, IT professional, intern, radiologist, prison warden, administrative worker, packaging operator, landscaper, six jobless people, and an independent business owner. Duma acknowledged that the initiative faced initial opposition but emphasized the Road Traffic Inspectorate's commitment to curbing road accidents and fatalities.

He expressed gratitude to the South African Police Service, Health Department, Home Affairs Department, and the National Prosecuting Authority for their support, noting that over 98% of drunk-driving cases have led to convictions. Private security firms, Community Policing Forums, and Non-Governmental Organizations also played crucial roles in the operation, although specific details remain undisclosed.

Following the Budget Speech on July 16, the #NenzaniLaEzweni operation will transition to the subsequent phase as part of the revised Road Safety Campaign. Recently, an IOL report revealed that an on-duty member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was among 59 motorists arrested for driving with a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit in KwaZulu-Natal.

The arrests occurred during a targeted road safety operation, with the SANDF personnel, a taxi driver, and a nurse among those detained.