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At least 34 people were arrested for drunk driving in Ladysmith between 3 January and early morning of 4 January 2026. All appeared in court on Monday 5 January , including a court interpreter.
What Happened
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport confirmed that 34 motorists were arrested overnight in Ladysmith for driving under the influence of alcohol. The arrests took place between Saturday 3 January evening and the early hours of Sunday January 2026, as part of a routine operation by the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI).
Those arrested included public servants and professionals across multiple sectors. Among them was a court interpreter.
Official Response
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, praised the RTI’s intervention: “By and large, many families could be devastated, in pain, planning funerals and mourners expressing their condolences. But God sent a highly dedicated RTI team to protect families and save KwaZulu-Natal.”
The department described the operation as a preventive measure to reduce deaths on the province’s roads at the start of the year.
Community Impact
The 34 motorists appeared before the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court on 5 January 2026. The group includes:
- 1 court interpreter
- 1 train driver
- 1 taxi driver transporting five family members
- 1 shop steward
- 3 teachers
- 1 police officer and 1 retired officer
- 1 paramedic
- 1 pharmacist assistant
- 1 bodyguard for the former Mayor of Ladysmith
- 1 municipal building control officer
