6-year jail sentence for drunk drivers in this South African province

South African law enforcement will be out in force this Easter weekend, and one province in particular is promising severe penalties for anyone caught drunk driving.

KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Transport MEC Siboniso Duma announced that his department is taking the issue very seriously and that anyone arrested for drunk driving over the long weekend could face a jail sentence of up to six years.

The roads between Gauteng and KZN are some of the busiest in the country, and these numbers tend to spike during holiday periods when households make the journey to the coast to enjoy the weather.

KZN anticipates that roughly 1,500 cars will pass through its toll gates every hour on their way to the beach, any one of which could be a potential safety hazard.

In response, the province is deploying 837 officials from the road traffic inspectorate to set up numerous roadblocks along key routes.

These teams will be assisted by 120 law enforcement officers from the Department of Transport (DoT), who will examine passing cars to assess their roadworthiness.

The DoT said it is taking a “no mercy” approach to violators and that it will work with the National Prosecuting Authority to bring justice to lawbreakers.

More specifically, the Transport MEC said that it will pursue longer jail terms for individuals who are caught, prosecuted, and convicted of drunk driving.

“We have mandated law enforcement officers to come down hard on motorists found to be driving under the influence of alcohol,” said the DoT.

The department argued that longer prison sentences are needed as a deterrent to tackle South Africa’s pervasive drunk driving problems.

The decision has been met with support from the public and political parties such as the Democratic Alliance, which argued for even harsher restrictions.

The DA said that a zero-tolerance policy should be adopted by all traffic authorities, and that this mandate should be expanded to cover speeding and reckless driving.

“Driving under the influence is not a mistake — it is a choice. And it is a choice that puts lives at risk,” the party said.

“This new measure is not about punishment – it is about prevention and protection. We urge drivers to make responsible decisions behind the wheel.”

What the law says about drunk driving

The terms of South Africa’s National Road Act state that it is illegal for a person to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of more than 0.05g per 100ml in their bloodstream.

It should be noted that law enforcement officials can choose whether to administer a breathalyzer test when they pull over an individual.

If a person is tested and found to be over the limit, they can be arrested and taken into custody where an additional blood test may be administered to give a more accurate result.

Arrested persons cannot refuse this blood test, however they can request to have their medical practitioner present.

Once a person is taken into custody, they will detained in a holding cell until they have been granted bail or until their next court appearance, which needs to be done within 48 hours.

However, this 48-hour window does not include weekends, which means anyone arrested at the start of the Easter weekend could potentially be detained for much longer.

In KZN, drunk driving carries a minimum fine of R2,000, but the provincial DoT has stated that it will push for its 6-year jail term for offenders.