KwaZulu‑Natal police and partnering agencies detained 23 people for driving under the influence during a broad provincial enforcement sweep on Saturday, provincial officials said. The arrests form part of Operation Nenzani Ezweni, a joint effort targeting drunk driving, illegal trucking and the unlawful renting of social housing units.
High readings, varied offenders
Among those arrested were a financial advisor, three teachers, three truck drivers, a petrol attendant and a prison warden. Breath‑alcohol tests showed some motorists were well in excess of the legal limits.
“We continue to remove reckless motorists before they could kill innocent road users,”
the office of KwaZulu‑Natal transport and human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said, noting the wider impact of the campaign.
Officials highlighted the following individual readings reported by Duma’s office:
- a prison warden in Newcastle with a reading of 2.00mg per 1000ml;
- a taxi driver in Newcastle with 0.79mg per 1000ml;
- a truck driver at the P601 and P749 intersection in Umzimkhulu with 0.26mg per 1000ml.
Legal limits and context
The legal breath‑alcohol limit for drivers of light motor vehicles in South Africa is 0.24mg/1000ml. Taxi and truck drivers are held to a lower standard: 0.10mg/1000ml. The readings reported in these arrests exceed those limits by factors ranging from three times to eight times.
| Driver type | Legal limit (mg/1000ml) | Recorded example (mg/1000ml) | Approximate multiple of limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light motor vehicle | 0.24 | 2.00 (prison warden, Newcastle) | ~8 times |
| Taxi | 0.10 | 0.79 (taxi driver, Newcastle) | ~8 times |
| Truck | 0.10 | 0.26 (truck driver, Umzimkhulu) | ~3 times |
Operation reach and record
Duma’s office said the operation has yielded a large number of arrests since its launch in August 2025. According to the provincial office, 7 742 people have been arrested under the Operation Nenzani Ezweni banner to date.
Operation Nenzani Ezweni is a coordinated campaign involving the South African Police Service, home affairs and the Road Traffic Inspectorate. It concentrates on three main priorities: removing intoxicated drivers from the roads, curbing illegal trucking activity, and addressing the illegal renting of social housing units.
Women‑led policing initiative
Separately, the SAPS organised a female‑only policing event in the province to mark Women’s Month. Branded Operation Basadi, the initiative is normally women‑led with male officers in a support role; the recent night’s event was carried out entirely by female officers, provincial police said.
The weekend’s arrests and the continued provincial focus on road enforcement underline the authorities’ stated intention to reduce deaths and serious injuries on KZN roads. Motorists stopped during the operation face further legal processes in line with traffic and criminal law.
What motorists should know
- South Africa’s legal breath‑alcohol limits: 0.24mg/1000ml for light vehicles; 0.10mg/1000ml for taxi and truck drivers.
- Those found above the limit face arrest and prosecution under road traffic and criminal statutes.
- Operation Nenzani Ezweni checkpoints and patrols continue across the province; drivers are advised to plan ahead and refrain from drinking if driving.
The provincial office did not provide further details on court appearances or possible administrative sanctions arising from the weekend arrests. Local courts and the Road Traffic Inspectorate will continue to process cases as required.
Reporting from the Newcastle and Umzimkhulu areas contributed to this update.
