KZN prison warden’s shocking reading after drunk-driving arrest

Johannesburg – A KwaZulu-Natal prison warden was among at least 23 people arrested for alleged drunk driving during a road-safety operation across the province on Saturday night.

The warden was arrested on Albert Wessels Drive in Newcastle after allegedly recording an alcohol reading of 2.00mg per 1000ml – about eight times the legal limit for driving a light motor vehicle.

According to The Citizen, the arrests were made as part of Operation Nenzani Ezweni, a joint operation involving police, Home Affairs and the Road Traffic Inspectorate targeting drunk driving, illegal trucking and other offences.

KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma’s office said the operation had resulted in 7,742 arrests since it was launched in August 2025.

“We continue to remove reckless motorists before they could kill innocent road users,” Duma’s office said.

Those arrested included a financial adviser, three teachers, three truck drivers, a petrol attendant and the prison warden, according to the report.

The financial adviser was arrested in Newcastle following the end of a snow-themed party.

News24 also reported on the arrest, saying the man told police that he had been “giving financial advice” at the event.

His arrest formed part of a broader road-safety operation targeting motorists suspected of driving under the influence.

Other motorists were also found to have exceeded the prescribed alcohol limits.

A truck driver arrested at the P601 and P749 intersection in Umzimkhulu had an alcohol reading of 0.26mg per 1000ml, while a taxi driver arrested on Albert Wessels Drive in Newcastle recorded 0.79mg per 1000ml.

The legal alcohol limit for drivers of light motor vehicles is 0.24mg/l, while professional truck and taxi drivers are subject to a lower limit of 0.1mg/l, according to the report.

The arrests come as provincial authorities continue to intensify road-safety operations aimed at removing allegedly impaired drivers from the roads.