Increase in drunk driving, accidents in Cape Town | Rhewal

(Archive photo: pixabay)

Cape Town’s law enforcement officers have arrested 325 people and issued 57,854 fines for various offenses in the past week.

“There is a significant increase in the number of arrests for drunk driving and motor vehicle accidents reported to the city’s emergency service centre,” says JP Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security.

Cape Town’s traffic police arrested 69 motorists, 54 of them for driving under the influence, compared to 33 the previous week. Seven people were arrested for reckless or negligent driving and eight people for various other offences.

Officers recorded 51,242 offences. A total of 252 public transport vehicles were impounded and 1,191 arrest warrants were executed.

“The city’s emergency service center recorded a total of 1,935 cases within 48 hours over the weekend. This includes 147 assaults, 48 ​​cases of domestic violence, 64 motor vehicle accidents (47 the previous weekend) and 15 accidents involving pedestrians.”

Smith says these statistics are unfortunately not a surprise, because the overall picture is even worse. “Not all cases are necessarily reported through the same channels or reported at all. The payday weekend is unfortunately already an established phenomenon and it once again emphasizes the devastating role that alcohol plays in our society. With the month-end weekend in sight and a string of long weekends around the corner, I would like to once again warn motorists and the public to accept responsibility for their actions and not to endanger their own or someone else’s life.”

Last week, the city’s law enforcement officers arrested 219 people and issued 3,904 fines. Their counterparts in the Metropolitan Police arrested 37 people and issued 2,708 traffic and other fines.

Drugs worth R16 000 were found in Heideveld on Sunday after a tip was received about drugs on the premises. Officers were allowed to search the premises and came across 545 Mandrax tablets and R1 000 in cash. A 28-year-old man was arrested and is being held at Manenberg police.

Officers of the metro police arrested a suspect on Saturday on charges of illegal possession of a firearm in Eersterivier. Officers approached a taxi around 12:30 when it caused a traffic disruption. While questioning the driver, they noticed a shoulder bag and requested to search the bag. The driver tried to run away, but was apprehended. Officers seized a pistol and two cartridges. The 31-year-old man was arrested.