Drunk drives into traffic, killing three cops
Revellers disregard lockdown rules
The Tshwane Metro Police Department has lamented the failure of residents to comply with the curfew and regulations in relation to alcohol after three officers were killed in a head-on collision involving a suspected drunk driver.
Speaking on behalf of the chief of police Lt-Gen Johanna Nkomo, spokesperson Snr Supt Isaac Mahamba, said it was painful that the officers would die on duty trying to do their work.
“Though we are aware that when we serve, specifically in our line of job, we are committing to say that anything [can happen] at any time, but when it happened she [Nkomo] was so shocked.
“Her worry is the issue of alcohol. Members lost their lives and we are suspecting that the other driver was involved in alcohol. From Friday up until today [yesterday] in the City of Tshwane, we’ve had 30 accidents, most of which drivers were suspected of having taken alcohol.
“She says we must deal decisively with alcohol-related offences,” Mahamba said.
The three officers died in the early hours of yesterday morning after their vehicle collided with another during a highspeed chase on the N4.
The officers were providing backup to colleagues who were chasing a suspected drunk driver on the N4 in Pretoria West.
Officers spotted a vehicle driving recklessly and facing oncoming traffic in the Pretoas ria CBD. They tried to stop the vehicle, but it sped off and they gave chase.
These officers then called for backup and were joined by another team which was in the area.
The vehicle being pursued was then involved in a head-on collision with the TMPD vehicle giving backup.
The three officers all died on the scene and so did the driver of the vehicle being chased. Police found empty and full alcohol bottles in the man’s vehicle.
Mahamba said the driver of vehicle was not supposed to be on the road.
“We will intensify operations to enforce the regulations… The curfew does not mean that places of entertainment should close at 10pm. It means their patrons should be at home before 10pm.”
Meanwhile, some taverns and pubs had their hands full
more than 50 patrons came.
Motsepe Motsegoa, head of marketing and communication at Moja Cafe in Orlando, Soweto, said: “We had to get more security and people to check we always have 50 people on the premises. Over 100 people came and we had to turn them away.”
Mamphethi Rammase, general manager at PDL Lifestyle Lounge in Pimville, also in Soweto, expressed irritation with the lack of compliance by some of the patrons.
“We were able to cap the number of people to 50. That was not a problem. The only problem we saw was from patrons who were outside and didn’t have their masks on and didn’t keep their social distance.
“We had security to enforce those regulations, but [those] people are not children, they need to understand that this is a serious problem.”