To mark the start of the festive season, at least two people were arrested for drunk driving while those caught driving without licences were slapped with R1,500 fines in a roadblock on the N2 near Mthatha on Monday.
The police, provincial transport department and the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) had a joint roadblock on the N2 between Mthatha and Tsolo.
The roadblock was meant to mark the beginning of the festive season and send a strong message to motorists that reckless and negligent driving would not be tolerated.
ECLB spokesperson said one of their main responsibilities was to promote responsible drinking.
“The Eastern Cape Liquor Board is committed in promoting responsible alcohol consumption and is very concerned with the growing rate of road fatalities associated with alcohol abuse. Our interest is reducing road fatalities in the EC,” Mgwebi said.
He said they chose the N2 because of the high accident rate on that road. The N2 was named as the country’s most dangerous road earlier this year by Arrive Alive.
“We have identified N2 for our road safety campaign as it is notorious for its alcohol-related accident,” he said.
Mgwebi said the roadblock was a success.
“We had quite a number of people that were driving without licences. Eastern Cape Liquor Board conducted a roadblock to launch its festive season campaign but also to educate road users on the dangers of alcohol abuse especially driving under the influence of alcohol.”
Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the two that were nabbed for drunken driving will appear in court soon.
Mthatha police spokesperson Captain Dineo Koena said they were pleased to be part of such campaign.
“We are still going to continue with such operations. We want to stop the abuse of liquor because it leads and contributes to other crimes like robberies and murder,” Koena said.
King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality portfolio head of public safety and traffic management Tshepo Machaea welcomed the roadblock.
“It is a good initiative. We appreciate their effort. They help with educating people about the dangers of drinking and driving. We appreciate their eye-opening awareness campaigns,” Machaea said...