By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Traffic authorities arrested a total of 2,719 drivers nationally in recent operations aimed at curbing festive-season road carnage, an 8.7% increase compared with the same period last year.
1,478 arrests were for drunk driving, with the highest numbers recorded in the Northern Cape, North West, and Eastern Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo, Western Cape, Free State, and Mpumalanga.
During the 2024/25 festive season, nearly 10,000 motorists were arrested for drunk driving, while 1,589 fatalities occurred across 1,286 fatal crashes between 1 December 2024 and 11 January 2025.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) estimates that approximately 27% of all road deaths are directly linked to impaired driving.
“This sharp rise in arrests shows that enforcement authorities are taking an increasingly firm stance. It is a reminder that road safety is a shared responsibility: when enforcement tightens and communities act together, lives can be saved. We truly are all in it to win it, said the authority.”
AWARE.org, the Association for Alcohol Responsibility and Education, backed by major alcohol producers, distributors, and retailers is responding to this crisis through its #Shiy’imoto campaign.
The campaign urges motorists to “leave the car behind” when consuming alcohol. The campaign intensifies as South Africa heads into three high-risk long weekends: 16 December, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
“This moment presents the opportunity to turn things around. The people behind these quoted numbers are more than statistics; they are parents, children, friends, and community members whose lives matter. With three busy public holidays ahead, we are calling on all South Africans to make a simple choice: park your car, save a life. Use e-hailing services, appoint a sober driver, or stay the night. These decisions prevent harm, “says AWARE.org CEO Mokebe Thulo.
Authorities are increasingly relying on eBAT machines, which provide immediate, court-admissible results at the roadside, significantly speeding up drunk-driving cases.
“A major part of our challenge every December is the time it takes to process drunk-driving cases,” says Thulo. “eBAT allows officers to test, charge, and remove offenders on the spot. Faster processing means fewer drunk drivers stay on the road, and fewer families receive devastating phone calls.”
Notable high-risk cases
Speeding incidents included 183km/h in Limpopo, 193km/h in Gauteng, and 184km/h in KZN, exceeding limits by up to 73km/h. High alcohol readings included 2.38mg/1000ml in Dutywa (EC), 2.37mg/1000ml in Lethlabile (NW), and 2.18mg/1000ml in Molefe Makinta (NW).
AWARE.org calls for personal responsibility
Behind every statistic is a family whose life has been changed forever. During the 2024/25 festive season, 87% of fatal crashes were attributed to human behaviour, including drunk driving, speeding, and reckless overtaking.
“The greatest reward this December is not the celebration,” Thulo concludes. “It is getting home safely. #Shiy’imoto is about ensuring that every South African can do exactly that.”