South African lawmakers are calling for sweeping reforms to the country’s traffic fine system, including electronic notifications and online payment systems, after municipalities were forced to write off billions of rand in unpaid penalties.
The calls follow revelations that the cities of Ekurhuleni and Tshwane collectively wrote off approximately R3.33 billion in traffic fines deemed unrecoverable.
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Songezo Zibi said the current enforcement framework relies too heavily on outdated paper-based processes linked to the struggling South African Post Office.
Speaking to radio station 702, Zibi said many motorists never receive their traffic infringement notices because registered mail delivery systems are no longer functioning effectively.
“The Post Office no longer functions well, which means many people simply do not receive the fines,” he said.
Under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, traffic fine notices are required to be sent through registered mail unless motorists voluntarily opt for electronic communication such as email or SMS notifications.
Push for SMS notifications and online payments
Zibi argued that the legislation must be updated to accommodate modern digital communication methods.
He suggested that SMS notifications alone should be legally sufficient to notify motorists that a traffic fine is pending.
According to Zibi, the absence of proof that notices were delivered has become one of the major reasons fines are eventually classified as unrecoverable.
“When notices are not delivered, offenders can later argue they were unaware of the fine,” he explained.
He also proposed the creation of electronic payment systems, including mobile apps and online portals, allowing motorists to settle fines immediately after receiving digital notices.
South Africa’s traffic fine administration system has faced criticism for years due to inefficiency, administrative backlogs and poor enforcement rates. Many municipalities have struggled to convert unpaid fines into enforceable court orders before statutory deadlines expire.
Zibi further questioned how municipalities allocate law enforcement resources, arguing that too much manpower is devoted to roadside operations aimed at encouraging immediate fine payments.
“The traffic police often incentivise people with discounts and payment arrangements. I’m not sure that’s what police resources should primarily be used for,” he said.
Municipalities challenge revenue-sharing model
The debate over traffic fine enforcement has also reignited tensions between municipalities and the Gauteng Provincial Government over revenue-sharing arrangements.
Currently, Gauteng metros are responsible for issuing traffic fines and collecting payments on behalf of provincial authorities. However, municipalities retain only 20% of the revenue collected, while the provincial government receives 80%.
Municipal leaders argue that the arrangement is financially unsustainable, particularly as cities carry much of the operational burden associated with enforcement and administration.
Tshwane Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya raised the issue in Parliament on 12 May, calling for either a restructuring of the revenue split or a full takeover of traffic fine administration by the national Department of Transport.
“If it’s going to take time for the Department of Transport to take over these functions, then we need to reconsider the split and possibly increase the municipalities’ share from 20% to 40%,” Moya said.
She added that municipalities should receive fair compensation if provincial and national governments are not yet prepared to deploy their own enforcement systems and personnel.
The discussion comes amid growing concerns about municipal finances, declining compliance rates and broader questions over the effectiveness of South Africa’s traffic enforcement framework.
Source: Adapted from parliamentary discussions and 702 interviews.
