KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma has confirmed that a doctor, three nurses, and a councillor were among 66 motorists arrested for drunk driving in Port Shepstone between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
The arrests form part of an intensified Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) operation, which Duma says is aimed at cleaning up KwaZulu-Natal’s road network and saving lives.
Rising Weekend Arrests
According to the latest figures, 55 motorists had been arrested by 00h15 on Sunday morning. By mid-morning, the number had risen to 66. Combined with 44 arrests made on Friday and Saturday, this brings the weekend total to 110 arrests in Port Shepstone alone.
Since 15 August, a total of 399 drunk driving arrests have been recorded in the area.
Health Professionals and Officials Among Offenders
In a concerning twist, a doctor from Port Shepstone Regional Hospital has been charged not only with drunk driving but also for escaping from lawful detention. If convicted, he could face a fine or between six and ten years in prison.
Three nurses from the same hospital and a local councillor were also among those arrested. Duma expressed disappointment, saying health professionals should understand the devastating burden alcohol-related road accidents place on hospitals.
A police officer from Port Shepstone Police Station was also charged with escaping from lawful detention after his arrest.
The Cost of Drunk Driving
Duma highlighted that more than 60% of trauma cases in hospitals are linked to road accidents, many of which involve alcohol.
Public records show that the socio-economic cost of road accidents is estimated at R164 billion annually, or about 3.4% of South Africa’s GDP. In the 2022/23 financial year, the Road Accident Fund (RAF) paid out R22 billion in loss of income claims related to crashes.
MEC Salutes Law Enforcement Efforts
Duma praised the RTI team, municipal traffic officers from Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, and the South African Police Service (SAPS) members from Port Shepstone for their dedication.
“Collectively, the team managed to save innocent lives and prevent the destruction of families,” Duma said. He stressed that drunk drivers create “orphans, widows, and people living with disability,” and that law enforcement has been mandated to be firm against offenders.
Despite the alarming arrests, Duma noted that the majority of KwaZulu-Natal’s 12.5 million residents support the clampdown, saying communities are increasingly willing to “unite and isolate this tiny minority of individuals who drink and drive.”
