188 arrested, 185 held for 'DD'

MANZINI – The police arrested 188 people over the weekend and 185 of them were detained for drink-driving.

The arrests of the drink-driving suspects depict an 85.95 per cent increment compared to last year’s Easter weekend, as only 26 people were detained for the offence then.

It is worth noting that last year, breathalysers were still suspended, following the advent of COVID-19 in 2020. However, breathalysers have since been brought back as an instrument to be used to collect evidence for the offence, which according to a statement by the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini, had resulted in an increase in fatal road accidents by 6.6 per cent in the year 2023.

On the other hand, the other three cases are two of contravening the Pharmacy Act and one of contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act. On Friday, the police at Mankayane at 9:30am arrested and charged a 26-year-old man of Velezizweni for being found in possession of dagga weighing 119.7 kilogrammes without a licence or permit. The incident happened at Velezizweni.

Also at 4:30am on Sunday, Gege police arrested and charged a 48-year-old man of Ndzingeni for being found in possession of dagga weighing 179.3kg inside a motor vehicle, without a licence or permit while at Mgazini.

Another arrest was made on Saturday at 3:45pm in Hlatikhulu, when the police arrested and charged a 32-year-old man of Mbulungwane for being found in possession of 34 R4 live rounds of ammunition, without a licence or permit. The incident happened at Mbulungwane.