Gauteng Leads in DUI Arrests During Festive Season
During the festive season from October 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025, the South African Police Service (Saps) conducted a total of 6,332 operations nationwide, resulting in 244,951 arrests. Gauteng emerged as the province with the highest number of motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
Major General Mashadi Selepe presented the outcomes of the 2024/25 Safer Festive Season Operations to the portfolio committee on police, highlighting the significant number of arrests made during this period.
Festive Season Operations
Among the arrests made, the police conducted search operations on liquor premises, leading to the discovery of 6,547 unlicensed establishments that were subsequently shut down. Additionally, 7,984 suspects were apprehended for operating unlicensed liquor premises.
Furthermore, a total of 25,950 individuals were arrested for being in the country illegally during the festive season operations.
While some arrests included murder and rape suspects, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola clarified that not all of these crimes were committed during the same period. A total of 2,599 suspects were arrested for murder, with the Eastern Cape recording 584 arrests, followed by the Western Cape with 500, Gauteng with 495, KwaZulu-Natal with 324, and Mpumalanga with 252.
Moreover, the police arrested 4,675 suspects for drug-related offenses, with the Western Cape leading in arrests with 1,713, followed by the Eastern Cape with 668, Gauteng with 558, Northern Cape with 491, and Free State with 472.
Additionally, 3,816 rape suspects were apprehended during this period, with KwaZulu-Natal leading with 1,635 arrests, followed by the Western Cape with 507, Gauteng with 462, Eastern Cape with 365, and Mpumalanga with 250.
Notably, Gauteng recorded the highest number of motorists caught driving under the influence of alcohol, with 1,861 arrests. This was followed by the Western Cape with 1,692, KwaZulu-Natal with 1,509, Mpumalanga with 1,415, and Eastern Cape with 1,155.
Furthermore, the police recovered 1,767 explosives, 116,293 cell phones, and just over R4 million in cash during the festive season operations.
Unlawful Arrests and Civil Claims
Despite the commendable number of arrests made by Saps during the festive season, the police force has faced criticism for the high costs associated with civil claims. It was revealed that Saps currently faces R67.4 billion in civil claims, with a significant portion attributed to unlawful arrests and detention, resulting in R617.8 million in payouts.
The portfolio committee on police expressed concern over the amount of money being directed towards civil claims, particularly for unlawful detention and arrest cases. Efforts are being made to address this issue and mitigate the financial impact on Saps.
Overall, the festive season operations conducted by Saps yielded substantial results in terms of arrests and law enforcement activities, with a focus on ensuring public safety and combating crime across the country.
