A drunk driver with nine passengers in his vehicle was among scores of suspects arrested this past weekend.
The culprit was one of 48 motorists arrested for reckless and negligent driving and driving under the influence of alcohol during weekend operations.
Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, says on Friday 6 May, an officer attached to the Ghost Squad chased down a VW Citi Golf and eventually got the driver to pull over along old Strandfontein Road near Pelican Park.
“The officer was shocked to find 10 people squeezed into the vehicle. When the driver’s blood alcohol level was taken, he was found to be four times over the legal limit. This is the type of idiotic behaviour that our officers have to deal with on an all too regular basis. What’s even more astounding is how the nine passengers in the car allowed themselves to be in this situation at all. It’s a pity the law doesn’t allow us to arrest them for being party to a clearly drunk driver getting behind the wheel,” Smith reprimands.
In another incident, a motorist was clocked travelling at 208 km/h in a 100km/h zone on the M5 between Racecourse Road and Wetton Road.
A Ghost Squad officer who was posted with the Speed Team gave chase and pulled the driver over in Ottery. He was arrested for reckless and negligent driving.
City traffic officers arrested a further 30 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol and one for resisting arrest.
“In a sedan taxi operation in the Cape Town CBD, officers impounded 27 vehicles and issued 253 fines for various offences. The Law Enforcement Department’s Liquor Enforcement Unit meanwhile closed down five premises in Maitland and the Cape Town CBD during integrated operations with the police,” Smith says.
The special operation was the result of non-compliance by the owners of the establishments with the City’s by-laws and conditions of the Liquor Act. Officers issued spot fines totalling R40 800 for by-law contraventions.
In addition, three suspects were arrested for being in possession of drugs, including 14 packets of dagga and a small amount of cocaine. Another suspect was arrested for being in possession of a dangerous weapon.
“In Hanover Park, two Law Enforcement officers on patrol in the area on Saturday morning, heard gunshots and spotted the shooter in an open field. They followed the suspect, who then turned the gun on the officers when he realised that he was being pursued.
“The officer driving the patrol vehicle reacted by knocking the suspect to the ground, after which they were able to confiscate the 9mm Star pistol in his possession and arrest him before taking him to the local community health centre for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the incident,” Smith confirms.
The City’s Metro Police Department arrested 13 suspects on drug-related charges in Mitchell’s Plain, Bonteheuwel, Hanover Park, Parow, Wesbank and Table View. They also arrested 21 motorists for drunk driving in Gugulethu, Mfuleni, Kraaifontein and Dunoon and caught up with a shoplifting suspect in the Mitchell’s Plain Town Centre after receiving a tip-off from a member of the public.
