Picture: 102 drivers arrested for drunk and driving
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
9 September 2026 – An intensive drunken driving operation resulted in the arrest of 102 drivers who drove under the influence of alcohol in Mahikeng and surrounding areas. Drunken driving has been identified as one of the major contributing factors on the high rate of road crashes, fatalities and incidents.
The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Virginia Tlhapi said in dealing with the factor the Provincial Traffic Authorities continue to conduct drunken driving operations as a way of instilling good road behaviour and compliance. Tlhapi has expressed a serious concern about the number of drivers found under the influence of alcohol during the operation.
“The high number of drunken drivers is a course of concern. This is too much and we cannot just allow lawlessness on our roads, however we will continue to harshly punish them because they are endangering the lives of other motorists.
“We will not rest until we get to a level of total compliance on our roads. We call on motorists to refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol. Out of the 102 arrested drunken drivers, 99 were male and three female, 18 arrests as per breath samples and 84 as per blood samples,” she said.
Tlhapi further said amongst the three females, one was at the highest limit at 0.44mg/le and the highest limit for male arrest was at 1.01mg/le and the other male driver was at 0.92mg/le. She added that she appreciates the hard work displayed by the Provincial Traffic Authorities and encourages them to continue making sure that all drunken drivers are put behind bars.
“Our officers are working hard, diligently day and night to deal with non-compliance on our roads and drunk driving is one of the major contributing factors to the number of fatalities on our roads. We would like to emphasise that those who choose to drive under the influence do not respect other people’s lives.
“According to Provincial Traffic Authorities more drunken driving cases are recorded from Thursday towards the weekend, and they vowed to focus on drunken driving, which they said will remain their major project in targeted areas,” said Tlhapi.
The Guardian 