United Nations Public Service Awards Case Studies

Pietermaritzburg – the capital city of Kwazulu Natal serves as the arterial route for motorists from Gauteng and Mapumalanga provinces who journey to the east coast of Kwazulu Natal. Pietermaritzburg is a fast growing Metropolitan that boasts an array of night clubs, casinos, universities, extravagant dining areas and remarkable heritage, thus drawing crowds of youngsters and tourists alike.
From these citizens – come a percentage of offenders who have notoriously contributed to the ‘alarming increase in statistics’ with regards to drinking and driving within the city.
The Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg is a component of the Department of Transport. Our team consists of dedicated public servants who constantly strive to reach development goals through effective law enforcement encompassing a high standard of service delivery.
Due to drinking and driving being one of the major contributing factors of fatal accidents, In context – research indicates that 50% of people who die on the roads have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.05g per 100ml. The city of Pietermaritzburg, has notoriously contributed to the above statistics. We, as public servants in this area - felt a strong sense of obligation to members of the public to focus our attention to this problem by uniting all staff and role players in the fight against drunken driving with the aim of reaching our overall objective of ‘Saving Lives’. With this in mind – The Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg embarked on it’s innovation of the ‘Roving Alco Roadblocks.’
In September 2005, a 23 year old male was tragically killed by an alleged drunken driver outside a night club in the CBD of Pietermaritzburg. This misfortune had sparked media interest on the facts of this ‘killer act’ – drinking & driving. The victims mother, Mrs. Caro Smit- a drug educator, counselor and psychiatric Social worker had then formulated an organisation: S.A.D.D (South Africans Against Drunk Driving) dedicated to the memory of her son – this tragedy has encouraged our team to take our innovation to greater heights by getting other role players actively involved with our team in united efforts to curb this problem.
The Station Commander, during the initial planning phase of the project – all aspects arising from drinking and driving statistics were discussed e.g. Age groups effected, frequented areas, regular times / day – for trend analysis in order to determine a day / time for setting up of these roadblocks.
The planning phase revealed the following:-
1. Friday nights after 20h00 and early Saturday mornings were frequent times of motorists Drinking & Driving.
2. Age groups detected were on average 18 - 40years.
3. Areas of concern were 24hour shops, Bars, taverns, Casino’s, night clubs etc.

For the period - 04th August 2006 to 04th August 2007, every Friday night this project was held. As at 31 October 2007 – a total number of 1573 arrests for drunken driving were affected. These statistics, have impacted positively to the city of Pietermaritzburg, in that; the message of goal directed enforcement towards this criminal act has been passed on to the public at large.

What is the initiative about? (the solution)
The Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg – with the innovation of ‘Roving Alco Roadblocks’ has received an award for ‘2007 Innovative Service Delivery Institutions’ hosted by the CPSI. Moreover, our component had attained a second position into the award category: ‘2007 Public Sector Innovator of the year’. Amongst the awards obtained - is a silver accolade for our entry into the 2006/7 Premiers Service Excellence Award. Our Project, “Roving Alco Roadblocks” was one of the innovations submitted for entry into this award. Through the initiation and success of our project various partnerships amongst role players have developed (i.e. S.A.D.D [South Africans Against Drunk Driving] S.A.P.S, Municipal Traffic Departments, Traffic Training college, Department of Justice etc.) Included in the partnerships formulated – is an affiliation between The Community Road Safety Council (C.R.S.C) and RTI Pietermaritzburg, this is a partnership that we are exceptionally proud of, as this organisation has voluntarily come on board to broach this concern by hosting forums in rural areas, in order to try and eradicate this problem in rural areas before having it filtered into the CBD – where the result of such action could be loss of life / injury due to drinking and driving. The partnership between Prosecutors from the Pietermaritzburg traffic courts and the Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg, has impacted positively on our conviction rate (drinking and driving cases), as Prosecutors have extended their help to officers in detailed explanations of Court proceedings and assist in preparation of evidence in court, so as to ensure positive outcomes of court rulings. Whilst focusing efforts on ‘Drinking & Driving’ prosecutions – offences simultaneously revealed were illegal drag racing / reckless & negligent driving / unlicensed firearms and illegal lazer jammers. Due to night clubs being one of the major ‘hot spots’ for these arrests – an education programme was initially held with owners of clubs and casino’s to educate patrons on the effects of drinking and driving – this has impacted positively on our project, as club owners namely, Crowded house in Pietermaritzburg have supplied a ‘buddy bus’ with a sober driver to drive patrons to their residence in order to play a role in assisting in the alleviation of this problem. All arrested suspects’ names and outcomes of their court cases are published in the Natal Witness; we do believe that this has psychologically educated other motorists on the seriousness and legalities of drinking and driving. This we believe has sensitized the public to a point that ‘tip-offs’ are often given to our department in a bid to assist. The National Department of Transport, through positive feedback on our project has offered to sponsor additional Drager machines to the province. Statistics pertaining to drinking & driving arrest are placed onto a data base – where a graph analysis is drawn up – indicating any increases / declines with regards to the number of arrests. In addition, accident reports are data captured, where the accident types and causes are monitored – to analyse if there are increases / decreases in collisions due to drinking and driving.

Who proposed the solution, who implemented it and who were the stakeholders?
Mr. Prajen Parmanand, The Station Commander – Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg with effective planning strategies – implemented the proposed solution to ‘Drinking and Driving’– approved by: Regional Commander: Mr. Albert Ntanzi. All law enforcement officers based at R.T.I Pietermaritzburg are qualified Drager machine operators – this machine is a device used to determine the amount of alcohol within the system of a suspect. In view of the 2010 Soccer World cup being hosted in South Africa – as part of the Department of Transports organizational / strategic goals – an increase in manpower will be made available to our component. With this goal in mind – as part of logistical requirements, the Station Commander had equipped a senior supervisor – with Drager Instructor competency, to ensure all staff is promptly trained as Drager operators, thus fulfilling development goals. Mr. Chris Coucourakis received the necessary training as a Drager Instructor. This made provision for staff to be promptly trained as Drager operators and eradicated the problem of tedious paper work completion for enrolling to receive training at another institution. With our team now possessing the crux of the requirements in effecting a drunken driver arrests – The Roving Alco Roadblock was implemented. As mentioned previously, various partnerships between diverse associations have developed through the initiation of this project – all sharing a common aspiration to overcome the problem of drinking and driving in our city. The following services had contributed immensely to the growth and expansion of our initiative:- 1. S.A.P.S (South African police Services) ‘Ukubambisana’ [working hand-in-hand] best describes our relationship with this service. During Roadblocks - in the event of emergency situations arising viz. high speed chases – S.A.P.S always render their assistance in this regard. Our Drager Instructor: Mr. Coucourakis has extended his expertise by training all S.A.P.S members as Drager operaters, this has simultaneously increased manpower between the two services, hence; more drunk drivers arrested. 2. Department of Justice (Prosecutors) A partnership has developed between Prosecutors from the Pietermaritzburg traffic courts and R.T.I. Pietermaritzburg. Prosecutors often assist officers at court proceedings and preparation of evidence, so as to ensure positive outcomes of court rulings. 3. A partnership between R.T.I Pietermaritzburg and Nicro (National Institute for Crime Prevention and reintegration of offenders) has been established. Where verdict’s on suspects resulted in community service, our department has assisted by accommodating offenders to fulfill their community service at our station. This we believe, educates and simultaneously rehabilitates offenders. 4. A partnership between The Community Road Safety Council (C.R.S.C) and RTI has developed. They have broached this concern by hosting forums in rural areas, in order to try and eradicate this problem in their area prior to it filtering into the CBD. 5. Our department works closely with an N.GO - S.A.D.D (South Africans Against Drunk Driving). The founder - Mrs. Caro Smit a drug counselor / psychiatric Social worker formulated this organisation in memory of her son who was tragically knocked down by an alleged drunk driver. Information with regards to drinking & driving statistics are communicated.

Describe how and when the initiative was implemented by answering these questions
a. What were the strategies used to implement the initiative? In no more than 500 words, provide a summary of the main objectives and strategies of the initiative, how they were established and by whom.
Prior to embarking on the project: Roving Alco Roadblocks - certain criteria and objectives had to be considered. The following elements formed the basis of our strategy. 1. Officer Space – Mr. Parmanand ventured into the restructuring of our offices at 50 Braid Street to accommodate a specific office area dedicated solely for the use of alcohol arrests for the purposes of this project. The office is designed in a manner that suspects seating availability is made possible, a proper filing structure is in place that contains all documentation necessary for the arrest of the suspect – should an arrest on a suspect be affected. The actual operation room prohibits smoking that may interfere with the Drager machine / readings thereto. The Drager room when not in use after the Roving Alco Roadblocks conclude - serve as a training centre and a resource for other role players viz. local SAPS, Municipal Traffic Departments and also the general public, who do not have the necessary Drager machines available to them to conduct dragger tests on suspects. 2. Drager Machines – Initially our office was equipped with two (2) Drager machines – this was adequate during the initial stages of our Roving Alco Roadblocks, however; with this in mind, The Station Commander: encouraged ‘departmental heads’ to assist in this endeavour by purchasing additional equipment for our office – to cater for expansion and growth of our project. 3. A Radio Operator made available in the Radio Control Room during the Roving Alco Roadblocks to ensure the exact location of all officers are monitored, so as to ensure ‘prompt back-up’ by colleagues is obtained should and when a colleagues life / the public be in danger. 4. Ultimately one of our main goals was to sustain and replicate our project at other departments within the Road Traffic Inspectorate and other traffic fraternity’s – this was accomplished through the Director: Road Traffic Inspectorate: Mr. John Schnell – as at 29 August 2007, our department has been mandated - From October 2007, all stations within the Province of Kwazulu Natal will be conducting “Roving Alco Roadblocks”.

b. What were the key development and implementation steps and the chronology? No more than 500 words
As mentioned in strategic assessments – Logistics in terms of equipment were initially required for advancement of the project. The purchasing of fifteen lifeloc’s and two (2) additional Drager machine has made provision for the availability of additional equipment for staff to utilize during the roadblocks. This has impacted positively on arrest procedures, as staff now have ‘readily-available’ equipment when required and do not have to rely on the completion of a ‘screen’ on a suspect by his / her colleague The allocated area i.e. The Drager Room is equipped with all the required documentation which needs to be completed. This ensures that the completion of the document is quick and efficient as possible. This sophisticated equipment needs to be checked daily for malfunctions or general system checks. Both the equipment and the documentation are checked daily and either replenished or in the case of the Drager Machine – re-calibrated. Initially, merely staff from the Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg were attending the Roving Alco Roadblocks at the initial stages of this project, other role players within the traffic fraternity i.e. Commander Operations: Mr. B Davis, Instructors: Traffic Training College, Road Traffic Inspectorate- Media Liaison Personnel: Mr. C Govender / Mr. R Chinaboo – often attend these roadblocks. The excess of drunken drivers being arrested sparked huge interest from the judicial sector. Often enough, prosecutors from the local Magistrates Court visited the Station to increase their understanding, of the reality of what procedures are followed, when these arrests are made. It also assists them in understanding the sophistication of the Drager equipment and how it is used. The advice from the prosecutors is vital to officers, in aiding them to secure an arrest. The above events have increased our capacity to conduct Roving Alco Roadblocks not only during Friday nights but during night shifts (weekly) during summer holiday periods.

c. What were the main obstacles encountered? How were they overcome? No more than 500 words
1. One of our major challenges was changing the mind set of pub / bar owners to assist, as they perceived this project as a means for them to lose business on customers entertaining at their venues, however through education into this subject matter – mindsets were changed and vehicles made available by entertainment owners to allow a dedicated sober driver to drive patrons to their residence without them having to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol. 2. According to the National Road Traffic Act 93/96, the period in which one is allowed to test for alcohol that will lead to an arrest is 2 hours thereafter if the suspect fails to blow after been allowed 3 times to blow into the Drager machine, the suspect needs to be taken to a District Surgeon within 2 hours. The availability of a District Surgeon was a challenge in the past, however R.T.I Pietermaritzburg has now liaised with Provincial Hospitals to assist in this regard and an agreement reached that would aid us in this procedure. 3. One of the effects of alcohol is that persons are not in the correct frame of mind; this often has resulted in suspects failing to comply with officers when asked to stop and therefore resulting in complete road rage, where officers give chase to the vehicle. The suspect then serves as a danger to his own life, the life of other motorists and the officers as well. To overcome this challenge, the Station Commander has ensured that a radio operator is made available in the control room during the Roving Alco Roadblocks to ensure the exact location of all officers are monitored, so that other officers could respond as back-up should and when a colleagues life / public is in danger. Lessons learnt 1. In the past numerous details were tampered with the dragger slips going amiss, thus resulting in the case getting thrown out of court. This was a lesson learnt. A team is now been tasked to keep control of duplicates to original slips. To avoid this catastrophe copies of the dragger slips are handed over to the Administration capturing department, where all information relating to the dragger slip is captured and filed in a safe place for future use. 2. Through every roadblock, supervisors and management have monitored procedures conducted by officers, time delays etc. through this process Procedures have been streamlined and the system improved. 3. A task team was set out by the local S.A.P.S where, Criminal Investigators are tasked to collect additional evidence / duplicates from officers whose dockets / docket contents have gone missing. All information is then submitted to them so as to ensure that the docket reaches court for rulings.

d. What resources were used for the initiative and what were its key benefits? In no more than 500 words, specify what were the financial, technical and human resources’ costs associated with this initiative. Describe how resources were mobilized
No additional finances were utilized to remunerate staff working overtime during Roving Alco Roadblocks – all officers are remunerated on a low- rate basis for overtime worked during this shift – this remuneration is accommodated for in the Annual budget allocation as set aside for road blocks.

Is the initiative sustainable and transferable?
Sustainability The Station Commander of the Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg has, during the initial planning phase of this project, restructured a section of our offices at 50 Braid Street to accommodate a specific office area dedicated solely for the use of alcohol arrests for the purposes of this project. The provision of this Drager Operating Room ensures that the necessary equipment and paper work required when making an arrest with regards to drinking and driving is always available so as to sustain and ensure that this project remains an essential function of our law enforcement duties as public servants and to continue us serving the public for generations to come. Mr. C Coucourakis (Principal Provincial Inspector) at the Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg, is a qualified ‘Drager Training Instructor’ who is competent in providing training to all new staff employed at Road Traffic Inspectorate: Pietermaritzburg, all other departments within the traffic fraternity, as well as emergency services viz. S.A.P.S and Municipal Traffic Departments. Having our own Instructor readily available for training, will improve service delivery to other departments and ensure sustainability of this project. The purchasing of fifteen lifeloc’s and one dragger machine has made provision for the availability of additional equipment for staff to utilize during the roadblocks. This has impacted positively on arrest procedures, as staff now have ‘readily-available’ equipment when required and do not have to rely on the completion of a ‘screen’ on a suspect by his / her colleague. As at 29 August 2007, our department has been mandated by Director of Road Traffic Inspectorate: Mr. John Schnell that from October 2007, all stations within the Province of Kwazulu Natal will be conducted “Roving Alco Roadblocks”. This is in line with the Road Traffic Management Corporation of Phase 4 – Rolling Enforcement Plan. We are proud that our project has now moved from a local project to a fully implemented mandatory provincial task. Replicability Due to the success of this project senior management of the department of transport have encouraged other regions to follow suit – 1. Road Traffic Inspectorate Ladysmith Region, Durban Region and Metro Police Services have implemented this project. 2. Due to Pietermaritzburg N3 being the major arterial route between the Midlands meander and the coastline - Surrounding Municipal Traffic Departments to the Road Traffic Inspectorate Pietermaritzburg namely; Umshwathi Municipality, Richmond Municipality, Umgeni Municipality and Mpofana Municipality have indicated the need for training from our department in order to sustain such methods of operation on an ongoing basis. With the National department of transport funding additional Drager machines to our province, this will surely oblige our organization to continue in our efforts in accomplishing our goals to sustain this operation. As at 29 August 2007, our department has been mandated by Director of Road Traffic Inspectorate: Mr. John Schnell that from October 2007, all stations within the Province of Kwazulu Natal will be conducted “Roving Alco Roadblocks”.

What are the impact of your initiative and the lessons learned?
Challenges / Lessons 1. One of our major challenges was changing the mind set of pub / bar owners to assist, as they perceived this project as a means for them to lose business on customers entertaining at their venues, however through education into this subject matter – mindsets were changed and vehicles were made available by pub / bar owners, where a dedicated sober driver - drives patrons to their place of residence without them having to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol e.g. Crowded House Night club. 2. According to the National Road Traffic Act 93/96, the period in which one is allowed to test for alcohol - leading to an arrest is 2 hours, thereafter; if the suspect fails to blow after 3 attempts into the Drager machine, the suspect needs to be taken to a District Surgeon within the 2 hour time frame. The availability of a District Surgeon was a challenge in the past, however through liaising with local Hospitals to assist in this regard - an agreement was reached that would aid us in this procedure. 3. Initially local S.A.P.S have not assisted officers when taking the suspect to get detained at the S.A.P.S and this would mean officers, actually conducting functions of the S.A.P.S by physically having to open holding cells to place detainees into etc. After discussions between management of R.T.I Pietermaritzburg and local S.A.P.S, we now have established a good working relationship in the fight against drinking and driving. 4. One of the effects of alcohol is that persons are not in the correct frame of mind; this often has resulted in suspects failing to comply with officers when asked to stop and therefore resulting in complete road rage, where officers give chase to the vehicle. The suspect then serves as a danger to his own life, the life of other motorists and the officers as well. To overcome this challenge, the Station Commander has ensured that a radio operator is made available in the control room during the Roving Alco Roadblocks to ensure the exact location of all officers are monitored, so that other officers could respond as back-up should and when a colleagues life / public be in danger. Lessons learnt 1. Previously numerous information in the docket were tampered with – viz. dragger slips going amiss, thus resulting in the case getting thrown out of court. This was a lesson learnt. A team is now been tasked to keep control of duplicates to original slips. To avoid this catastrophe, copies of the dragger slips are handed over to the Administration capturing department, where all information relating to the dragger slip is captured and filed in a safe place for future reference. 2. Through every roadblock, supervisors and management have monitored procedures conducted by officers, time delays etc. through this process Procedures have been streamlined and the system improved. 3. A task team was set out by the local S.A.P.S where, Criminal Investigators are tasked to collect additional evidence / duplicates from officers whose dockets / docket contents have gone missing. All information is then submitted to them so as to ensure that the docket reaches court for rulings.


Institution Name:		Roving Alco Roadblocks
Institution Type:		Government Department
Contact Person:		Prajen Parmanand
Title:		Mr
Telephone/ Fax:		033 342 3939
Institution's / Project's Website:
E-mail:		prajen.parmanand@kzntransport.gov.za
Address:
Postal Code:
City:		Durban
State/Province:		Kwazulu Natal
Country:		South Africa

The Problem

Solution and Key Benefits

Actors and Stakeholders

(a) Strategies

(b) Implementation

(c) Overcoming Obstacles

(d) Use of Resources

Sustainability and Transferability

Lessons Learned

Contact Information