Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is working on a plan to reduce South Africa’s legal drunk driving limit to zero due to an increase in cases of driving while under the influence.
According to the latest South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Statistics for the first quarter (April to June 2026), DUI detections increased compared to the previous quarter.
In South African crime statistics, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) is classified under “Crimes Detected as a Result of Police Action”.
Therefore, rather than representing reported incidents, these figures indicate proactive policing, such as roadblocks, checkpoints, and random testing.
According to the quarterly statistics, nationally, DUI detections increased by 6.5%, rising from 20,070 cases in the previous year’s quarter to 21,370 cases in the first quarter of 2026 to 2027.
The increase mirrors a broader national trend in overall proactive policing, with total crimes detected through police action growing by 8.8% to 85,819 cases.
Below is a provincial breakdown of the DUI detections recorded by SAPS during the first quarter of the year:
| Province | DUI cases (April to June 2026) | Percentage of national total |
|---|---|---|
| Gauteng | 8,912 | 41.7% |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 3,731 | 17.5% |
| Western Cape | 2,632 | 12.3% |
| Eastern Cape | 2,265 | 10.6% |
| Limpopo | 1,075 | 5.0% |
| Free State | 978 | 4.6% |
| Mpumalanga | 948 | 4.4% |
| North West | 717 | 3.4% |
| Northern Cape | 112 | 0.5% |
| South Africa total | 21,370 | 100% |
Unsurprisingly, South Africa’s most populous province with the most motorists – Gauteng – recorded the highest number of DUI detections, at 41.7%, which is more than the next three provinces combined.
Only three provinces recorded a decrease in driving under the influence during the period, namely Limpopo, North West, and the Northern Cape.
The Northern Cape regularly records the fewest DUI detections, since it has the lowest population and the fewest motorists.
Permanent driving ban for motorists caught drunk driving
Following the announcement of the 2025/2026 festive season road safety report, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy stated that the government plans to reduce South Africa’s legal drunk driving limit to zero.
While this has been proposed multiple times over the years, the minister outlined the Department of Transport’s plans to amend Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act.
According to Creecy, it has become necessary to establish a clear rule that if you are driving, you must not drink.
She argued that the country’s current blood alcohol limit of 0.05g/100ml was established decades ago and that a new, zero-tolerance stance is required to address excessive consumption.
“The time has come for us to amend the law, so that we have a clear-cut, easy-to-understand, and unambiguous policy that says drinking and driving is not allowed,” she declared
“So, we will begin an amendment to Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act. If nothing else, we owe this to the memory of the many fellow South Africans who have lost their lives on the roads.”
Following the minister’s announcement, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport called for a permanent driving ban for motorists caught driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“The committee supports the consideration of a total ban on alcohol use on the roads,” said committee chair Donald Selamolela.
He claimed that drunk driving cases have reached alarming levels in South Africa, contributing to a majority of all road accidents.
Selamolela said the committee has been too lenient in the past and that more decisive action is needed to bring about a meaningful change in driver behaviour.
“Liability should be placed where necessary, and transgressing drivers should face stiff sanctions, including being banned from ever having a licence to drive.”
Despite these suggestions and the looming threat of permanent driving bans, the number of South Africans caught driving under the influence continues to increase.
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