Drunk car salesman offered to sell 500 breathalysers to RTI officers

A car salesman arrested for drunk driving in Estcourt offered to sell traffic officers 500 breathalysers at discounted prices, despite being among 21 motorists arrested during a Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) operation.

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the salesman made the offer after being arrested during the operation on Friday night.

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The officers rejected the offer, with Duma saying the salesman was told “Game Over.”

The arrests come as the province steps up road safety operations ahead of the festive season, with more than 5 000 blood-alcohol test kits already delivered to strengthen enforcement.

Twenty-one motorists arrested

According to Duma, the 21 motorists arrested in Estcourt included three taxi drivers, three truck drivers and a taxi marshal.

Others arrested included a self-employed person, an electrician, five unemployed people, a general worker, a forklift driver, a supervisor, a packer, a fitter, a security guard and the car salesman.

Duma said the motorists had been removed from the roads before they could endanger other road users.

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“By and large, these reckless drivers were removed from our road networks before they could kill other motorists,” he said.

Festive season road safety drive

Duma said the delivery of more than 5 000 blood-alcohol test kits had strengthened the province’s Nenzani La Ezweni operation as authorities prepared for the busy festive season.

The province is targeting a reduction in road fatalities of at least 18%, a milestone Duma said KwaZulu-Natal achieved in December last year for the first time in more than two decades.

He said the arrests reinforced the need for continued enforcement against motorists who drive under the influence of alcohol.

The MEC urged motorists to act responsibly as law enforcement officers intensify road safety operations ahead of the festive season.