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Over 57 Drunk Drivers Nabbed in Limpopo’s Weekend Road Safety Blitz
A busy weekend on Limpopo’s roads
It was a weekend of tough enforcement in Limpopo, where law enforcement officers launched a sweeping crackdown on unsafe driving. More than 57 drunk drivers were arrested on major routes, including the N1, N11, and R101 near Polokwane. The timing was deliberate, as traffic authorities had anticipated heavy traffic volumes linked to the Zion Christian Church pilgrimage, one of the province’s biggest annual gatherings.
Law enforcement in full force
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) deployed more than 30 officers across the busy highways. Alongside the drunk driving arrests, officers issued tickets to 163 minibus taxis operating without licences and ordered them off the road. In total, 237 vehicles were discontinued for being unroadworthy, many displaying mechanical faults that posed risks to both drivers and passengers.
There was also no tolerance for corruption. Five motorists were arrested after attempting to bribe officers, while three more were taken in for reckless and negligent driving.
Limpopo and Gauteng show tough stance
The spotlight was not only on Limpopo. In Gauteng, 384 minibus drivers were caught driving without valid licences, adding to the tally of serious violations across provinces. Meanwhile, Limpopo’s Department of Transport and Community Safety added its own enforcement efforts through the “Phuza Weekend” operations, arresting 23 motorists for drunk driving across towns including Modimolle, Ba-Phalaborwa, Bolobedu, Giyani, Tzaneen, Maruleng, and Lephalale.
In Namakgale, one driver shocked officers with a recorded alcohol level of 1.16 mg/L, nearly five times the legal limit. Those arrested ranged in age from 22 to 62, underscoring that irresponsible drinking and driving cuts across generations.
A message for motorists
Authorities used the weekend blitz as a stern reminder that road safety is everyone’s responsibility. The Department of Transport stressed that high-intensity operations will continue in an effort to reduce road deaths, many of which are fuelled by alcohol abuse.
For local communities, the crackdown is a reassurance ahead of the busy holiday months, when long-distance travel and festive celebrations often lead to tragic road accidents. The message is clear: drinking and driving is not just illegal; it is life-threatening for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Mercury
