Cape Town officials arrested 108 people for drunk driving over the Freedom Day long weekend, marking one of the highest tallies recorded so far this year. The figure combines 60 arrests made by traffic officers with a further 48 arrests by Metro Police and Law Enforcement.

The numbers paint a worrying picture for a city that continues to battle reckless behaviour on its roads, despite widespread public warnings and easy access to alternatives like e-hailing and designated drivers.

Traffic officers alone recorded 76 arrests over the period. Beyond drunk driving, they also logged 50 798 transgressions, impounded 176 public transport vehicles and executed 1 392 warrants of arrest.

JP Smith slams selfish road behaviour

Cape Town Safety and Security Mayco member JP Smith came down hard on offenders, saying he had “absolutely no sympathy” for anyone caught driving under the influence.

Smith said drunk driving continues to put innocent road users at risk while placing unnecessary pressure on already stretched enforcement teams. He argued that the criminal justice system should take a tougher stance against motorists who drink and drive.

His comments reflect growing frustration with the repeated human and financial cost of alcohol-related offences on the road.

Emergency calls keep services busy

The city’s Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 820 calls for help over the long weekend. That included 109 physical assault cases, 63 domestic violence incidents, 288 noise nuisance complaints and 27 complaints linked to drinking and fighting in public.

Call agents also dispatched help to 72 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, showing that road safety pressures extended beyond drunk driving arrests alone.

The figures suggest a weekend in which emergency and enforcement services were pulled in multiple directions, from violent incidents to crashes and public disorder.

More arrests and recoveries across the city

During weekly patrols, Metro Police officers made 113 arrests and issued 4 673 traffic and by-law fines. On Saturday, 25 April, members of the Anti-Hijacking Unit recovered two stolen vehicles abandoned in Brown’s Farm and the Kanana informal settlement within just over 30 minutes.

Law Enforcement officers also made 199 arrests and issued 9 616 notices during weekly operations. In one of the weekend’s other notable recoveries, LEAP officers in Manenberg seized just under 6kg of dagga and more than R16 000 in cash on Freedom Day, arresting a 19-year-old suspect.

Taken together, the long weekend numbers show a city still grappling with dangerous driving, alcohol-fuelled disorder and wider crime pressures.