Police have confirmed that there is still a shortage of drunk driving test kits across the country.
Roger Sedres, Gallo Images
- South Africa still has a shortage of drunk driving test kits, police confirmed to News24.
- The kits have been purchased on the international market but are awaiting compliance testing before they can be distributed to stations across the country.
- The Western Cape has enough test kits to last until April next year.
South Africa still has a shortage of drunk driving test kits and no date has been given as to when they will be available in the country.
This comes as dozens of tourists travel across the country over the festive season during one of the busiest periods on the country’s roads.
Last month, News24 reported that the South African Police Service (Saps) was made aware of a global shortage of vials, a component of test kits that ensures they have the tools and resources to prevent, combat and investigate cases. driving while intoxicated.
At the time, Saps said they had met with the vendor responsible for delivering the alcohol blood test kits and confirmed that the vials had been received. They expected the test kits by the end of November, in time for the December holiday period.
READ | Nationwide Shortage of Drunk Driving Test Kits – SAPS
However, on Friday, police spokeswoman Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told News24 that the drunk driving test kits had not yet been delivered and no date had been given as to when they would be available in the country. .
“By now, the supplier has managed to get vials on the international market [but] As this is a new and previously untested vial, Saps and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) are in the process of testing and validating the vials to ensure compliance with SAPS specifications.”
Mathe stressed the importance of vials being tested to ensure compliance so that the accuracy of the evidence presented could be upheld in court.
Meanwhile, police officers will need to provide an observation report in the form of an affidavit that will explain the physical appearance and behavior of the suspected drunk drivers.
matte said:
We also rely on pictures that would have been taken, [as well] How to trust the witnesses who were on the scene. This evidence can still be presented in court and secure a conviction.
Despite no kits, joint police operations have so far arrested more than 300 people for drunk driving in Gauteng, 200 in Limpopo and 27 in KwaZulu-Natal.
“In most provinces, we are working together as a team with local, provincial, metropolitan, national traffic departments and the Road Traffic Management Corporation to carry out multi-disciplinary and integrated joint law enforcement operations, which they include joint roadblocks and information sharing. [regarding the kits]added Matt.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape has test kits that will last until April next year after stocks were received by the province in November.
“The kits received will help the Provincial Traffic Services to continue successful drink driving operations throughout the province,” said spokesman for the province’s department of transport, Jandre Bakker.
“The drawing of a blood sample will be for prosecution purposes, and we will continue the same practice over the festive period to arrest motorists who feel they are free to drive drunk and show blatant disregard for any other innocent road user.” Baker said. additional.
Over the past week, more than 80 motorists have been arrested for drink driving, while 13 pedestrians have been killed in accidents on the roads of the Western Cape.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Senior Superintendent Geraldine Stevens of the eThekwini Metropolitan Police said they did not have blood bottles to store samples from drunk drivers.
“By law, we are required to use new specification blood bottles. As the Metropolitan Police, we cannot secure a service provider for the new blood bottles,” Stevens said.
