A 52-year-old taxi driver was arrested by the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol while transporting a group of church members. The incident occurred in the Benoni area during a coordinated drunk driving and stop-and-search operation conducted by EMPD officers in collaboration with other precincts.
According to EMPD spokesperson Lerato Nonyane, the officers were carrying out routine checks when they observed a Toyota Quantum minibus being driven recklessly on the road. Upon stopping the vehicle, police discovered that the driver, who appeared visibly intoxicated, was transporting a group of churchgoers. The passengers revealed that they had hired the driver to take them to and from church services.
When the driver exited the minibus, officers noted that he had difficulty standing upright, and his speech was slurred and incoherent. A strong smell of alcohol was emanating from him. Following standard procedure, the officers requested the driver’s license and administered a breathalyzer test, which confirmed that he was over the legal alcohol limit.
The driver was then taken to a nearby medical facility where blood samples were collected for further testing. Afterward, he was transported to the Benoni police station, where he was booked on charges of drunk driving.
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of the EMPD to curb drunk driving, a dangerous practice that often endangers the lives of innocent passengers and other road users. The incident also serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety, especially when transporting groups of people, as was the case with the church members who were lucky to have been stopped before any harm could come to them.
This arrest follows a similar case last year in Thembisa, where two men were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. In that instance, the driver was apprehended at a roadblock, but the situation escalated when his passenger attempted to take over the wheel. The passenger was also arrested for being intoxicated, demonstrating how alcohol can impair judgment and create multiple hazards on the road.
As authorities continue to clamp down on drunk driving, these operations are crucial in ensuring the safety of the public. The EMPD’s vigilance serves as a stark warning to those who might consider driving under the influence: the risks are not only legal but potentially deadly.
