Drunken driving offences defy liquor restrictions

MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent | Thursday January 15, 2009 00:00

 

In 2007, Selebi-Phikwe registered only eight accidents while the number quadrupled to 36 in the same period in 2008.

There was one serious accident recorded in the just ended festive period, while in 2007, there was none.

In the last festive season, only one motorist was caught driving under the influence of alcohol, which was before the strict liquor restrictions came into effect. This year, the number increased to 11, which has left police officers baffled by the numbers.

Selebi-Phikwe station commander, Victor Nlebesi, is confident that with the tightening of liquor trading, cases of drunken driving will go down.

'You will recall that all old liquor licences expired in December and the new ones fall under the new restrictions. We hope that drivers will be more responsible,' Nlebesi said.

In a move to curb alcohol abuse, government introduced a 70 percent levy on alcoholic beverages before the figure was revised to 30 percent.

Liquor trading times were restricted, a move met with derision from various stakeholders.

Nlebesi said the police learnt a lesson from this year's statistics. He said public education and punitive action would continue as a way of curbing road carnage.

'We have seen that as much as we preach against drunken driving, it seems there is no impact. The liquor restrictions had not come into full effect. That is why may be there were transgressions. I believe with the new liquor regulations in place the situation will improve,' Nlebesi said.

Statistics show that 13 motorists were arrested for careless driving in 2007, while the number increased to 19 in 2008.

Forty drivers were caught driving without a licence, compared to 11 in 2007.

Cases of house break-ins, theft and assault also ballooned during the festive season.

There were 37 reported burglary and theft cases, an increase of 22 from the last festive period. The highest increase was in common assault cases, up from 13 in 2007 to 57 this year.

One motor vehicle was stolen while 11 were broken into. A case of attempted murder was reported in Mmadinare and the suspect, Vincent Kgabo Mukandla (38), is on the run.

Nlebesi said the victim was fighting for his life in Nyangabgwe Hospital in Francistown and the police have launched a manhunt for Mukandla, a Zimbabwean. Mukandla also threatened to kill one person in Mmadinare and escaped arrest.