KZN to implement 6-year prison sentence for drunk drivers

THE MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma has announced strict new measures against drunk-driving in KwaZulu-Natal, including a sixyear prison sentence for offenders.

- MONISHKA GOVENDER

Emergency services and community forums have welcomed the initiative, while families of victims have shared their painful experiences of losing loved ones to intoxicated drivers.

During the launch of the Easter Road Safety Campaign last week, Duma warned that drivers could face a six-year prison sentence if found driving under the influence of alcohol.

KwaZulu-Natal is bracing itself for a bumper Easter weekend, with more that 1 S00 vehicles per hour expected to pass through the Mariannhill toll plaza from tomorrow.

In a bid to reduce the road fatalities, 120 law enforcement officers will be deployed to the province's roads while 837 officers will conduct law enforcement operations.

“Law enforcement officers must have no mercy on those caught drinking and driving. South Africa has the highest number of alcohol-related road traffic deaths at 57.5%.

“We have orphans, widows and families that have been destroyed as a result of one drunkard. We don’t want KZN to contribute to the national figure of fatalities as a result of one drunk person,” said Duma.

He said law enforcement officers had been mandated to arrest those motorists and send them to jail.

“They must be allowed to sober up behind bars and be released on bail after April 21.