75 drunk drivers arrested as Gauteng police launch festive season crackdown

Gauteng police arrested 75 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol during the launch of the Safer Festive Season operations over the weekend.

The arrests were made on Saturday, October 18, as part of a province-wide crackdown led by Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni. The operation forms part of a broader campaign to intensify law enforcement ahead of the festive period.

During the launch, Mthombeni outlined the priorities for the season, including more roadblocks, stop-and-search operations, raids on liquor outlets, and increased patrols at taxi ranks, bus terminals, train stations, and shopping centres. The operations will also target illegal firearms and gender-based violence.

The province-wide blitz, which began on Friday, October 17, resulted in the arrest of more than 1 000 suspects for various offences.

In Ekurhuleni, 154 suspects were arrested for crimes including drug possession, illegal liquor trading, and contravening protection orders. In Tshwane, 463 people were taken into custody for offences such as car hijacking and kidnapping.

Police in Sedibeng and the West Rand arrested 179 suspects for crimes including possession of stolen property, drug dealing, and operating unlicensed liquor outlets. In Johannesburg, 218 suspects were apprehended for offences such as possession of unlicensed firearms, assault, and malicious damage to property.

Detectives also arrested several suspects wanted for serious crimes, including murder, rape, robbery, and gender-based violence.

Those arrested are expected to appear in various magistrates’ courts across the province from Monday, October 20, while others have been released after paying admission-of-guilt fines.