The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has revealed that it recorded 26 578 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol between January 2023 and December 2025. This translates to roughly one arrest every hour over the three years. The data was released as part of a joint review by JMPD and AWARE.org, an organisation focused on alcohol harm reduction, prevention, and behaviour change.
According to the review, arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) recorded between 18:00 and 23:59 accounted for 80% of all recorded DUI arrests in 2023, rising to 84.7% in 2024 and 85.9% in 2025. The highest volumes were consistently recorded between 20:00 and 23:00. This pattern provides a clearer picture of when recorded DUI enforcement is most concentrated and could help inform enforcement, public education, and prevention efforts throughout the year.
Mokebe Thulo, CEO of AWARE.org, said the findings reinforced the need to address drinking and driving beyond periods such as Transport Month and the festive season. “An average of one arrest every hour for three years is a reminder that drinking and driving cannot be something we focus on only in Transport Month or the festive season.” This statement highlights the need for a sustained effort to tackle the issue of drinking and driving.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said the data could help inform the department’s ongoing operations. “The three-year data gives us a clearer picture of when recorded DUI arrests are most concentrated. This evidence can help inform our ongoing operations and how we work with partners on prevention and education throughout the year.” The data is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the department's strategy to combat drinking and driving.
The findings come as Transport Month places renewed attention on road safety, while the government considers tougher measures to tackle alcohol-related deaths. Last month, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said the government was pursuing amendments to Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act to move towards a strict zero-percent blood-alcohol policy for motorists, with Cabinet approval targeted by the end of 2026.
The proposed zero-alcohol limit has received support from the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) and South African Breweries (SAB), with both backing stronger measures to prevent drinking and driving. MISA said the Road Traffic Management Corporation estimates that alcohol contributes to at least 27% of road fatalities, while SAB has publicly promoted a “none for the road” approach to drinking and driving.
According to the government, South Africa could not normalise the nearly 12,000 deaths recorded on the country’s roads annually, with government targeting a halving of annual road fatalities by 2030. A total of 6 457 people died on South African roads between January 1 and August 23, representing a 9% reduction compared with the same period last year. More than a third of the fatalities occurred in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal combined.
Key points
- 85.9% of DUI arrests in Johannesburg were recorded at night between 2023 and 2025.
- The government is pursuing amendments to Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act to move towards a strict zero-percent blood-alcohol policy for motorists.
- South Africa aims to halve annual road fatalities by 2030.
