Gauteng traffic officials “arresting more women for drunk driving than men”

Gauteng traffic officials are finding more women are now being caught driving under the influence of alcohol than men, says Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Ismail Vadi.

“… We are picking this up at various roadblocks… We are finding that we are arresting more women for drunk driving than men,” Vadi said

Addressing the launch of the ‘She Conquers’ campaign in Tshwane on Tuesday, the MEC said HIV/Aids, sexual abuse, alcohol as well as drug abuse are a challenge amongst young people.

Campaign aimed at improving the lives of young women

The MEC hosted 100 girl learners from various schools in the Mamelodi district in Tshwane as part of the She Conquers campaign.

She Conquers is a three-year national campaign that aims to improve the lives of adolescent girls and young women in South Africa.

The MEC encouraged young girls to not allow their circumstances to define them.

“There are so many challenges that young people have. I know that sometimes with all these burdens in life, you may feel a sense of helpless, a sense that nobody cares, nobody to turn to and nobody to talk to that you feel would even listen. We know that young people have resilience,” Vadi said.

Dr Karabelo Segwai from the Gauteng Department of Health said every year, 200 million women — mostly in the developing world — have no access to modern contraception.

“Young women are being turned away from health facilities because they are seen as kids,” Segwai said.

HIV and human trafficking

He said every year, one million women and girls get infected with HIV and 25 million unsafe abortions are conducted globally per annum.

Segwai said human trafficking was also a big challenge internationally.

“As many as 1.2 million children are being trafficked every day. A child goes missing every five hours in South Africa.”

He urged young women to be vigilant and take reasonable precautions for their safety.

Originally published by SAnews.gov.za