ALMOST 20,000 drunk drivers have been arrested in South Africa in the past 11 months, the Transport Ministry said
"From October 2010 to September 19, 780 drunk drivers have been arrested," said spokesman Logan Maistry.
Six hundred of those drivers were sentenced in Western Cape alone.
"Forty-seven were sentenced to prison without the option of paying fines or serving another type of sentence," Maistry said.
One was jailed for four years, six for three years and the remaining 40 for between six months and two-and-a-half years.
"A further 12 had their licences cancelled."
Maistry said about 14-million vehicles and drivers had been stopped and checked in the past 11 months. From August 31 to October 9, over 300000 public transport vehicles were stopped and checked, with 1111 minibuses, 653 buses and 355 trucks taken out of service.
On Thursday and Friday last week, almost 60 public transport buses were removed from service in Gauteng and North West during raids at various bus depots.
"This is part of the pre-December holiday clean-up operation," Maistry said.
Another 125 drivers who failed to pay their traffic fines and did not contest the fines in court were arrested in Tembisa and Kempton Park last week.
Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele reiterated that road users who disobeyed the rules of the road would face the consequences of their actions.
20,000 drunk drivers arrested in 11 months
ALMOST 20,000 drunk drivers have been arrested in South Africa in the past 11 months, the Transport Ministry said
"From October 2010 to September 19, 780 drunk drivers have been arrested," said spokesman Logan Maistry.
Six hundred of those drivers were sentenced in Western Cape alone.
"Forty-seven were sentenced to prison without the option of paying fines or serving another type of sentence," Maistry said.
One was jailed for four years, six for three years and the remaining 40 for between six months and two-and-a-half years.
"A further 12 had their licences cancelled."
Maistry said about 14-million vehicles and drivers had been stopped and checked in the past 11 months. From August 31 to October 9, over 300000 public transport vehicles were stopped and checked, with 1111 minibuses, 653 buses and 355 trucks taken out of service.
On Thursday and Friday last week, almost 60 public transport buses were removed from service in Gauteng and North West during raids at various bus depots.
"This is part of the pre-December holiday clean-up operation," Maistry said.
Another 125 drivers who failed to pay their traffic fines and did not contest the fines in court were arrested in Tembisa and Kempton Park last week.
Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele reiterated that road users who disobeyed the rules of the road would face the consequences of their actions.
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