Cape Town’s roads saw a sharp spike in law enforcement activity over the Freedom Day long weekend, with more than 100 drunk driving arrests recorded, while commuters received long-awaited relief as a major Voortrekker Road bottleneck was finally cleared.
Traffic authorities across Cape Town arrested a total of 108 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol over the Freedom Day long weekend, marking one of the highest enforcement tallies recorded this year.
According to City figures, traffic officers accounted for 76 arrests, of which 60 were directly related to driving under the influence. Additional arrests carried out by Metro Police and Law Enforcement officers brought the combined total to 108 across the metro.
The scale of the crackdown extended beyond drunk driving. Authorities recorded 50,798 traffic transgressions over the same period, impounded 176 public transport vehicles, and executed 1,392 outstanding warrants of arrest.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, issued a firm warning, stating that “drunk driving remains a challenge,” adding that he has “absolutely no sympathy for anyone caught in this situation,” and calling for stronger action from the criminal justice system.
Emergency response systems were also under pressure during the long weekend. The Public Emergency Communication Centre logged 1,820 calls for assistance, including cases of assault, domestic violence, noise complaints, and road-related incidents. Authorities responded to 72 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents during the period.
In a separate but related development impacting daily commuters, a key section of Voortrekker Road between Salt River and Maitland has officially reopened to full capacity following the completion of structural rehabilitation work.
The reopening follows years of disruption caused by damage to the over-rail bridge near Salt River Circle, which had resulted in lane restrictions and significant congestion along one of the city’s busiest transport corridors. As previously reported on 23 April in “Salt River Bridge Bottleneck Continues to Disrupt Traffic More Than a Decade Later,” the partial closure had forced traffic onto surrounding routes, increasing travel times and placing strain on alternative road networks.
City teams began dismantling barriers and temporary infrastructure earlier this week, restoring the eastbound lane to full use. Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, welcomed the development, stating that “the removal of these barriers marks the end of a long-standing bottleneck for commuters.”
The rehabilitation work, led by the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa with support from the City, is expected to significantly ease congestion in the area, providing relief to commuters and local businesses that have been affected by the prolonged disruption.
While the reopening signals progress in addressing infrastructure challenges, authorities say continued enforcement and investment will be critical in improving both road safety and transport efficiency across Cape Town.
Source: IOL – IOL – Staff Reporter; Cape {town} Etc – Cape {town} Etc – Lulama Klassen.
