Thirteen motorists were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence during a targeted Road Traffic Inspectorate operation in Newcastle over the weekend.
According to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, the arrests formed part of its ongoing #NenzaniLaEzweni road safety campaign, which has intensified enforcement against drunk driving across the province.
The latest operation comes as the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences system, commonly known as AARTO, takes effect in Newcastle and Ladysmith.
Commenting on the province’s road safety programme, KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the campaign had received a further enforcement boost.
“This is in the form of the implementation of the demerit point system for drivers,” stated the MEC.
However, while AARTO’s administrative infringement system is now operational in Newcastle and Ladysmith, motorists are not yet accumulating demerit points.
The current rollout changes how traffic infringements, penalties and enforcement orders are administered. The points component, which can eventually lead to driver disqualification and licence cancellation, has not yet been activated.
Drunk-Driving Enforcement Intensifies
According to Duma, more than 6,500 motorists have been arrested for drunk driving across KwaZulu-Natal since 15 August 2025.
“The No Nonsense RTI team arrested lawyers, accountants, engineers, nurses, police, SANDF Soldiers and many other professionals, representing different sectors of the economy. Bodyguards of mayors, deputy mayors and other high-profile individuals were also arrested. This is a clear demonstration that nobody is above the law,” said MEC Duma.
Newcastillian News has previously reported on several major drunk-driving operations in the region.
In December 2025, more than 100 people were arrested during a single weekend operation in Newcastle. In June 2026, a South African National Defence Force soldier was arrested in Ladysmith for allegedly driving under the influence while on duty.
The latest 13 arrests reinforce the Department’s warning that motorists suspected of driving under the influence will continue to face arrest and prosecution, regardless of their profession or position.
What AARTO Means for Local Motorists
AARTO took effect in Newcastle and the Ladysmith area on 1 July 2026 as part of a wider provincial rollout.
Under the administrative system, motorists who receive infringement notices must respond within the prescribed period.
Depending on the circumstances, they may pay the penalty at the discounted rate, nominate the person who was driving, submit a representation or follow the prescribed process to challenge the infringement.
Failing to respond can result in additional administrative fees and the issuing of an enforcement order.
Once the demerit-point component is activated, motorists will begin accumulating points according to the seriousness of their infringements or offences.
The planned system allows motorists to accumulate up to 15 points.
Exceeding that threshold can result in disqualification for three months for every point above the limit, while repeated disqualifications may eventually lead to the cancellation of a driving licence.
Locally, Duma confirmed that 35 officers had been trained in Newcastle and 29 in Ladysmith to support the AARTO rollout.
“As part of the implementation plan, we will be rolling out massive awareness campaigns across the province together with the Road Traffic Infringement Authority and other relevant stakeholders. We want skilled and responsible drivers to drive on more than 34 000 kilometres of our road networks,” said Duma.
The tables below outline selected penalties under AARTO, together with the demerit points that will apply once the points system becomes operational.
Important: The listed demerit points are not yet being added to motorists’ records.
For Newcastle and Ladysmith motorists, the immediate message is straightforward: drunk-driving enforcement is already active, AARTO’s administrative processes are now in place, and the demerit-point system will introduce further consequences once it is formally activated.
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The 13 arrests in Newcastle serve as a direct warning that motorists who drink and drive risk far more than an ordinary traffic fine—they face arrest, criminal prosecution and, once the full AARTO system is introduced, potentially serious consequences for their driving licences.
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