Gauteng police using “mobile Post Offices” to generate revenue

Concerns have been raised over the growing trend of the Metro Police and the Gauteng Traffic Police using roadblocks to generate revenue.

This was raised by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety, which stated that such roadblocks are increasingly being used to collect revenue and as a substitute for the post office for distributing fines.

The committee raised the point during a meeting last week when members questioned Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni about the matter.

They noted that the roadblocks seemingly focus on checking and printing traffic fines and forcing motorists to pay them on the spot.

“Instead of targeting criminals, illegal firearms, drugs, and unroadworthy vehicles, some of these roadblocks merely hand motorists notices of unpaid fines,” the committee said.

“The Committee is of the view that Gauteng residents want to see roadblocks that make them safer, not roadblocks that feel like mobile Post Offices.”

It also stated that the roadblocks create severe traffic congestion and frustration without addressing any real issues.

“Every roadblock should be a crime-fighting tool — arresting wanted suspects and illegal foreign nationals, recovering dangerous weapons, and ensuring general compliance with the law,” it said.

The committee also raised the recent claims from the Democratic Alliance that the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) had instructed officers to collect R7,000 in traffic fines daily.

While the JMPD denied these allegations, Michael Sun, the Democratic Alliance spokesperson for community safety, argued that this requirement forced officers to issue fines rather than enforce the law, manage traffic, and prevent crimes.

“Officers have reliably informed us that they are under pressure to each collect at least R7,000 in traffic fines daily,” said Sun.

“This effectively turns law enforcement into a revenue-generating system rather than a public safety service.”

Sun also noted that this issue coincides with the increase in roadblocks.

The JMPD denied this, stating that the roadblocks were intended to maintain public safety and order on the metro’s roads.

Spokesperson Xolani Fihla stated that while citations are an expected part of an officer’s duty, there is no quota system in place.

“The department’s focus is on ensuring compliance with traffic laws to prevent accidents and protect the lives of all road users, not on generating a specific number of traffic fines.”

No need to pay immediately

Fihla, in October 2024, outlined the rules surrounding fines at roadblocks in Gauteng and confirmed that motorists aren’t required to pay fines immediately.

Having said that, he went on to warn motorists that they should pay when pulled over for several reasons.

This includes allowing them to avoid long queues and avoid having their licence disc and driving licence card applications blocked due to unpaid fines.

“We hold roadblocks in the City of Joburg for different purposes; one could be for crime prevention services, for traffic violations, for drunken driving, and also for outstanding traffic fines,” said Fihla.

“Within the City of Johannesburg, the JMPD is using the Aarto system, and we are advising motorists to pay their traffic fines, but at a roadblock that is manned by the JMPD, you’re not obliged or forced to pay the traffic fine on the spot.”

He noted that those who fail to pay within the specified time will be blocked from renewing certain documents, and that the roadblocks are therefore put in place to ensure they can help motorists pay their fines on time and avoid this.

“When you go to testing centres to enquire and to pay, you find that there are long lines, and it does become an inconvenience.”

However, while this is true, many motorists already pay their fines through various online platforms or services offered by their banks.

This calls into question how needed the roadblocks actually are if this is their intended purpose.