Gauteng Police Nab 75 Suspects for Drunk Driving Amid Safer Festive Season Crackdown

Gauteng Police Hit the Streets Ahead of Festive Season

As South Africans gear up for the festive season, Gauteng police have hit the ground running, arresting 75 people for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol across Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Ekurhuleni.

The arrests were part of the province’s Safer Festive Season Operations, a multi-pronged initiative led by Lieutenant General Mthombeni aimed at reducing road accidents, violent crime, and public safety threats during the holiday period.

Beyond Drunk Driving: A Sweep Across the Province

According to Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, police didn’t stop at alcohol-related arrests. Over the weekend, more than 1,000 suspects were taken into custody for various offences.

• In Ekurhuleni, 154 suspects were arrested for crimes including dealing in liquor, drug possession, contravening protection orders, and illegal immigration violations.

• In Tshwane, 463 people were apprehended for serious crimes such as car hijacking, kidnapping, gender-based violence, and femicide-related offences.

• Sedibeng and the West Rand saw 179 suspects arrested for possession of stolen goods, dealing in drugs, running unlicensed liquor outlets, and illegal immigration violations.

• Johannesburg operations netted 218 suspects, including those wanted for assaults, malicious damage to property, possession of unlicensed firearms, rape, murder, attempted murder, and robbery.

“These operations are aimed at targeting criminals who have been on our radar for serious and violent crimes,” Masondo said.

Strategic Focus for the Festive Season

The Safer Festive Season Operations prioritize:

• Roadblocks and stop-and-search campaigns to catch drunk drivers.

• Raids of liquor outlets and crackdowns on unlicensed vendors.

• Patrols at transport hubs such as taxi ranks, bus terminals, and train stations.

• Combatting the proliferation of firearms and addressing gender-based violence and femicide.

Masondo explained that suspects will appear in various magistrate courts from Monday, 20 October 2025, while others were released after paying admission-of-guilt fines.

Community Reaction and Public Safety Concerns

Social media users expressed relief at the strong police presence but also called for sustained action throughout the festive season. Many highlighted the danger of drunk driving on busy Gauteng roads, especially during the December holidays.

Local residents welcomed the focus on gender-based violence, noting that festive periods often see a spike in domestic abuse cases.

With the holiday season just around the corner, Gauteng authorities are sending a clear message: crime won’t take a festive break. Police operations will continue across the province, targeting violent offenders, drunk drivers, and other threats to public safety, aiming to keep residents safe while celebrating the holidays.

{Source: The Citizen}

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