Transport MEC Robin Carlisle on Monday called the more than 15,000 drunken drivers arrested in the Western Cape last year a shameful statistic.
At least 7,000 drivers were found guilty in a court of law, with a few receiving suspended sentences or in most cases hefty fines for their actions.
Provincial traffic officials conduct weekly operations on the roads, which include driver fatigue and breathalyzer tests on suspected drunken drivers.
Carlisle said drunken driving is a massive problem in the Western Cape.
“The 15,000 people arrested is probably only a small reflection of the reality. I was out the other night and every fourth person that the police stopped was drunk. That included women and people with young children in their car. We have got a critical situation as far as drunk driving is concerned,” he said.
(Story by Rafiz Wagiet, Edited by Lisa Bartlett appeared on Eyewitness News)