Drunk Driving Crackdown Deepens in KZN Ahead of Easter Weekend
KwaZulu-Natal is moving into a busy Easter weekend with a hard warning for motorists: drunk driving will not be tolerated. Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has urged residents and visitors to put safety first as holiday traffic rises sharply on major routes, including the N3 highway, where about 2, 500 vehicles per hour have been recorded entering the province. The message comes as law enforcement prepares for full-scale visibility across the province and zero tolerance for alcohol-related offences.
Premier Ntuli warns motorists as holiday traffic builds
Premier Ntuli said drivers travelling within and into KwaZulu-Natal must obey road safety rules, make sure vehicles are roadworthy, and drive responsibly at all times. He also called on bus and taxi operators carrying congregants to Easter services and religious gatherings to prioritise passenger safety, complete vehicle inspections before travel, and ensure long-distance drivers rest properly. The warning on drunk driving was direct, with the premier saying traffic authorities will be out in full force and that offenders will face the full might of the law.
The province’s safety push is not only about road discipline. Ntuli also urged peace and restraint during the holiday period, appealing to anyone with grudges or intentions of retaliation to avoid violence and choose dialogue instead. He further called on people in possession of illegal firearms to surrender them voluntarily to police, saying removing illegal guns from circulation is critical to reducing violent crime.
Drunk Driving enforcement already catching motorists
Traffic officials are already dealing with drivers trying to avoid consequences as the Easter long weekend approaches. Roadblocks across KwaZulu-Natal have caught hundreds of motorists over the legal limit in recent weeks, and 67 people were nabbed in Umhlanga and Durban North last weekend alone.
Officials have also described repeated attempts by motorists to talk their way out of trouble. Officers challenged alleged offenders over their behaviour, including one motorist who was told to switch off a car because he could not drive it and another who was questioned after trying to offer money to an officer.
Expert warns any amount of alcohol creates risk
Ron Govender, who oversees training and safety awareness across South Africa and other African countries at Alcohol Breathalysers, said many motorists still wrongly believe they can drink and remain safe to drive. He said any amount of alcohol impairs brain function and judgement, often before a person realises it, and warned that even the legal driving limit can exaggerate behaviour and affect vision and control.
Govender advised people to drink at home with family or use e-hailing services if they go out, adding that no amount of alcohol makes a driver safe on the road. He said drivers should focus on protecting lives rather than finding ways not to be caught, and he urged motorists not to argue with law enforcement officers.
What happens next in KwaZulu-Natal
Premier Ntuli said police visibility will be heightened across all districts to deter criminal activity and create a safer environment for residents and visitors. South African Police Service members, Metro Police, Municipal Law Enforcement, and community safety structures are part of that effort, alongside Road Traffic Inspectorate teams. As the holiday rush continues, the province is treating drunk driving as one of the clearest threats to a safe Easter weekend.
Ntuli concluded by wishing citizens and visitors a safe, peaceful, and blessed Easter weekend, while urging everyone to play their part in keeping KwaZulu-Natal secure. With traffic volumes rising and enforcement tightening, drunk driving remains at the center of the province’s safety response.
