KwaZulu-Natal authorities tackled drunk driving over the weekend, arresting 234 motorists in Newcastle.The operation formed part of the Alufakwa – Zero Tolerance and No Nonsense campaign, executed by the Newcastle Road Traffic Inspectorate from Friday night, 17 October 2025, through to the early hours of Sunday, 19 October 2025.
The initiative, spearheaded by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, is a focussed effort to halt the rising tide of alcohol-related collisions and fatalities in the province.
As reported earlier in October by Newcastillian News, with Transport Month underway, authorities have declared that any driver caught under the influence will face swift, severe, and uncompromising consequences.
According to the Department of Transport, 118 arrests were made on Friday night alone, followed by 116 more on Saturday night. While local officers carried out the bulk of enforcement, a substantial contingent of provincial and national officials reinforced the operation.
Furthermore, KZN MEC for Transport Sboniso Duma delivered a warning to motorists, “Drink, drive, and you will face a criminal record and spend up to 48 hours in detention before bail or your next court appearance.”
MEC Duma highlighted the devastating toll of alcohol-fuelled driving. “These individuals have inflicted unimaginable suffering on families, leaving widows, orphans, and people living with disabilities. In 2022 alone, 12,436 people died on our roads, and over 100,000 were seriously injured. Men accounted for 75% of fatalities.”
The MEC also emphasised that the department, in partnership with Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, will intensify multidisciplinary operations through Transport Month, the festive season, and beyond, signalling zero tolerance for offenders.
Crucially, health authorities are now an integral part of enforcement. MEC Duma noted, “MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi is deploying medical professionals to collect blood samples during our operations, ensuring successful prosecutions. Our joint effort aims to significantly reduce trauma unit admissions for alcohol-related injuries.”
Looking to the end of the year, traffic and police officials have reaffirmed their determination to continue operations relentlessly, keeping the pressure on drunk drivers well into the festive season.
As KwaZulu-Natal grapples with the ongoing human and social cost of road accidents, campaigns like Alufakwa – Zero Tolerance and No Nonsense demonstrate a coordinated, no-compromise strategy for public safety.
With the above in mind, what are your thoughts? Let us know below.
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FAQs
Authorities arrested 234 motorists in Newcastle over one weekend as part of the Alufakwa – Zero Tolerance and No Nonsense campaign.
It is a provincial initiative by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport aimed at eradicating drunk driving and improving road safety.
Offenders face immediate arrest, a criminal record, and up to 48 hours in detention before court proceedings.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce road fatalities and injuries caused by alcohol-related collisions across the province.
3 Responses
How about spending the money to make our roads safer by resurfacing, Filling Potholes and cleaing the water drainage/Stormwater ways so the roads will automatically be safer, remove all speedhumps as there are so many unneccesary ones that slows our economy. The biggest step that can be taken is firstly to ilegalize drinking in public especially in parks where people have to drive home afterwards in an ontoxicated manner. This is when things happen for the bad. ALso, the glass bottle littering then ruins children parks which are meant for children playing and not people drinking. People drinking in parks are not supposed to be looking after kids, also the parks are for kids and families, not people drinking . . . Get this right then there will be safer roads
Wonder why they chose to setup a roadblock right out of a Hindu festival knowingly.. This speaks volumes that they are prejudice towards the Hindu community
Wow, 234 drunk drives, but yet no accidents, and this was on Diwali day. Right when will the traffic department start filling the potholes. Cause with all the potholes, we can sober drivers, drive like we drunk to avoid all the potholes.