Cape Town - Drunk drivers continue to be the City’s biggest headache as nearly a quarter of those arrested this past weekend were for drunk driving.
The Traffic Service arrested 121 motorists, of which 76 were for driving under the influence, impounded 110 public transport vehicles and executed 963 warrants of arrest.
“The statistics over the past week paint a bittersweet picture. On the plus side, we’ve had nearly 500 public transport vehicles undergo safety checks as part of Operation Exodus. In spite of the unseasonal stormy weather, very few incidents were recorded that required a disaster response, and in part, due to the weather, there was a downturn in fires over the long weekend,” said safety and security mayco member JP Smith.
But with the good comes the bad, he said.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 2 263 incidents over the weekend, including 238 cases of assault, 67 domestic violence incidents, 29 complaints about drinking in public and 71 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents.
Audio available in English
“The drunk driving arrests, domestic violence incidents and a number of assault cases alone unfortunately reflect the dark side of the festive season. We’re also noticing an increase in calls related to self-harm. It is heart-breaking to realise that, during a time when the narrative is festive, so many among us are going through a very difficult time,” said Smith.
Audio available in Xhosa
Cape Times