KwaZulu-Natal's MEC for Transport clarifies that cyclists can be arrested for riding while intoxicated, following a crackdown on drunk driving that resulted in over 120 arrests.
Image: KZN Department of Transport /Facebook
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma has said that cyclists can be arrested for riding under the influence of alcohol, following public reaction to the breathalysing of a cyclist during a weekend road safety operation in Estcourt.
In a statement, Duma said law enforcement officers acted within the provisions of the National Road Traffic Act when testing the cyclist during the #NenzaniLaEzweni operation.
“We have observed a mixed reaction after the department posted a photo of a cyclist undergoing a breathalyser test,” Duma said.
“Like motorists, cyclists can be breathalysed by the Road Traffic Inspectorate on public roads and can also be arrested if they are found cycling under the influence of alcohol.”
The clarification comes after intensified enforcement operations across the province over the weekend, which saw more than 120 motorists arrested for drunk driving.
According to figures released by the department:
Duma said those arrested are expected to appear in court and come from a wide range of professions, including taxi drivers, a mayoral bodyguard, a metro police officer from Gauteng, truck drivers, an IT specialist, an Eskom technician, nurses, teachers, a house husband, and a pensioner.
“A total of 5,689 motorists have been arrested since 15 August 2025,” Duma said.
He added that the enforcement operations are aimed at preventing road fatalities and protecting innocent road users.
“They were removed from our road networks before they could kill innocent people and in the process create orphans and widows,” he said.
The #NenzaniLaEzweni campaign forms part of the provincial government’s broader efforts to curb reckless and negligent driving, particularly alcohol-related offences, which remain a leading cause of road crashes in KwaZulu-Natal.
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