Several motorists were arrested on Ladysmith roads over the weekend, as KwaZulu-Natal authorities continued their clampdown on drunk driving across the province.
Among those detained was a South African National Defence Force soldier who was allegedly driving under the influence while on active duty.
In another case, a minibus taxi driver was arrested after authorities allegedly found him operating a public transport vehicle while 20 times over the legal alcohol limit.
Reflecting on the arrests on Monday, 1 June 2026, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, said the latest operations showed that provincial traffic enforcement would not make exceptions for any motorist, regardless of occupation or position.
“The arrest of an SANDF soldier on duty by our No-Nonsense Road Traffic Inspectorate is a clear indication that nobody is above the law,” Duma said.
According to the MEC, the SANDF member was intercepted on Sunday, 31 May 2026, during the provincial #NenzaniLaEzweni law enforcement campaign in Ladysmith. The operation forms part of ongoing efforts to reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities on KwaZulu-Natal roads.
The soldier’s arrest was followed by a broader enforcement push in the area, which resulted in 13 additional arrests nearby.
Duma said the most alarming case involved a minibus taxi driver who was allegedly found to be 20 times over the legal alcohol limit while transporting commuters.
The case has raised serious concern, given the direct risk posed to passengers and other road users when public transport operators drive under the influence. For many commuters, taxis are not a luxury but a daily necessity. That makes the conduct of drivers carrying passengers a matter of public safety, not merely personal responsibility.
Across KwaZulu-Natal, the Department of Transport confirmed that 59 motorists were arrested for drunk driving over the weekend.
This brings the total number of alcohol-related driving arrests under the current provincial operation to 6 345 since the campaign began in August 2025.
Furthermore, the weekend operations also took place against the backdrop of concerns over possible infrastructure blockades and traffic disruption in the province. Duma said preventative deployments had helped maintain movement along key routes.
“Importantly, last Friday, we announced the deployment of more than 2000 highly efficient and No Nonsense Road Traffic Inspectorate and Operation Shanela teams throughout the corners of the province of KwaZulu-Natal. We wish to inform the people of this province that we ensured the free flow of traffic despite widespread fears of major disruption linked to the shutdown. There was no shutdown of traffic along the N2 and N3 freeways,” Duma said.
The MEC said the Department worked closely with provincial police structures during the operation. He extended his department’s appreciation to KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for deploying South African Police Service units to support traffic officers on the ground.
The arrests also showed how widespread drunk driving remains across different sectors of society.
According to the provincial authorities, those arrested during the local operations included people from several professional backgrounds.
They included:
- SANDF soldier, arrested while allegedly on active duty
- Taxi driver, allegedly transporting passengers while 20 times over the legal alcohol limit
- Eskom quality surveyor
- Nurse
- Teacher
- Data capturer
- Electrician
- Human resources officer
The list points to an uncomfortable reality. Drunk driving is not limited to one group, income level or occupation. It cuts across professions, workplaces and communities, placing ordinary motorists, passengers and pedestrians at risk.
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Be sure to read: 61 Motorists Arrested for Drunk Driving in Ladysmith During Weekend RTI Operation
