The City of Johannesburg’s automated speed cameras have been inactive for seven months, effectively allowing motorists to speed without worrying about getting caught.
This is due to the fact that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) had a three-year contract with the service provider Syntell, which expired in December 2025.
When the contract expired, Syntell rescinded access to all of the speed cameras it provided to the JMPD, which reportedly does not possess any cameras of its own.
In the seven months since the contract expired, the JMPD has yet to appoint a replacement for Syntell, which will provide the municipality with new traffic cameras.
The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) commented on the matter, warning that this has a detrimental effect on road safety.
“What this basically means is that there is a massive reduction in traffic and law enforcement,” MISA spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said in an interview with SABC News.
“This ultimately leaves workers and communities more vulnerable to accidents and traffic violations, which of course means we are less safe on our roads.”
In 2025, a total of 3.1 million traffic fines were issued within Joburg, based on captured speed camera images.
In contrast, only 300,000 tickets were based on hand-written notices enforced by JMPD traffic officers out on patrol, reported Daily Investor.
The loss of its automated speed traps, therefore, puts a substantial dent in the City’s finances, as traffic fines typically generate around R50 million in revenue per year.
Hlubi-Majola said this is another example of how financial mismanagement and corruption have led to the City’s dire financial position.
“We’re also asking the question around ‘why is it that the city does not have its own traffic enforcement system?’” Hlubi-Majola said.
“Why are we relying on service providers? If the city did have its own system, then we wouldn’t actually be in this crisis.”
MISA argued that greater accountability for poor governance and stronger financial management is needed to address Johannesburg’s service delivery crisis.
JMPD looking for a new speed camera provider
The JMPD said it is still looking for a new service partner that can provide speed cameras across Johannesburg.
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla told SABC News that the department would follow municipal supply chains and comply with strict procurement processes.
“Because these contracts involve significant funds, it is vital that we strictly adhere to the Municipal Finance Management Act,” he said.
“We must ensure that the process is entirely transparent and legally sound to avoid any future operational disruptions.”
Fihla said that the JMPD would make an official announcement as soon as a contract has been negotiated and finalized with a new service provider.
While the City’s speed cameras are out of commission, the JMPD has reportedly ramped up its active policing efforts.
The traffic police have increased the number of roadblocks at high accident zones and known traffic infringement hotspots around the metro.
Fihla said the loss of Syntell’s automated system only restricted “one specific channel of data capture” and had not affected the JMPD’s overall traffic enforcement abilities.
“The JMPD has intensified its physical deployment strategy to deter lawlessness,” Fihla said. “We want to issue a stern warning to all road users.”
“Johannesburg is absolutely not a speed-free zone. Our officers remain out in full force to clamp down heavily on speeding, driving under the influence, and reckless behaviour.”
Fihla previously said that the JMPD would procure its own camera equipment in the future to reduce its dependency on third-party service providers.
The City has been heavily criticised for its inability to appoint a new contractor in a timely manner. The Democratic Alliance said the JMPD’s delayed attempts to restore Joburg’s speed camera network were unacceptable.
DA shadow Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety Solomon Maila criticised the JMPD, stating that it should not have allowed the Syntell contract to expire in December without any plans for a replacement.
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