Newcastle Municipality's campaign to clamp down on drunk driving: A call for safer roads
The Newcastle Municipality has urged motorists to behave responsibly during the festive season as the town has seen several arrests for drunk driving since October.
Image: Brendan Magaar / Independent Newspapers
Newcastle is once again emerging as KwaZulu-Natal’s leading hotspot for drunk driving and alcohol-related offences during the festive period, prompting the Municipality to roll out an intensified and highly targeted safety strategy.
KwaZulu-Natal authorities confirmed that 66 motorists were arrested for drunk driving at the weekend, with Newcastle recording the highest number of arrests across the province.
This municipality said the town does see a spike in alcohol consumption, road offences, and alcohol-related incidents during the festive season.
Municipal officials said the latest figures reveal just how entrenched the problem has become.
According to the official statement, “since 22 October 2025, a total of 274 motorists have been arrested for drunk driving in Newcastle alone. When combined with this past weekend’s 66 arrests, the total number of offenders rises to 340, underscoring a persistent and deeply troubling pattern of alcohol abuse on our roads.”
With the festive season now underway, authorities are adopting a more hard-line approach than in previous years.
The municipality has strengthened operations in partnership with SAPS, Newcastle Traffic Services, and provincial structures. These efforts include expanded roadblocks, sobriety checkpoints, high visibility patrols, and targeted compliance inspections against illegal alcohol trading and non-compliant establishments.
Officials stressed that “offenders will face decisive legal consequences.”
Describing the escalating behaviour as a threat to public safety, the municipality stated that “this level of lawlessness is unacceptable, especially as we enter the festive season, a period meant for rest, celebration, and family, not preventable injury, trauma, and loss of life.”
“The municipality unequivocally condemns the reckless abuse of alcohol and the dangerous conduct of individuals who choose to drink and drive. Such actions, place immense strain on law-enforcement officers, emergency responders, and healthcare systems, while endangering innocent road users.”
To curb the seasonal spike, residents and visitors are being urged to take personal responsibility and adhere strictly to safety guidelines.
The municipality called on the public to “refrain completely from drinking and driving”, comply with traffic officers' instructions, avoid public drinking, and report reckless behaviour to authorities.
Emphasising that reversing Newcastle’s festive-season reputation requires widespread cooperation, the statement noted that “a safer Newcastle requires everyone's collective effort.”
Authorities also acknowledged the intense work of officers on the ground, saying: “We also acknowledge and commend the dedicated work of law-enforcement agencies whose continuous vigilance has resulted in the 340 arrests recorded to date.”