
Between 23 and 30 July, the first week following the implementation of Cape Town’s amended traffic by-laws, the city’s traffic services impounded 30 private and 306 public transport vehicles in terms of the new regulations.
The amended by-laws were initially gazetted in 2022 after a widespread public participation process in which the city received over 1,800 comments from citizens who all gave their input on how the laws should change.
“The amendments were designed to address the ongoing disregard for law and order on our roads, and the carnage that so often accompanies it,” said the city’s safety and security portfolio committee chairperson, councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe.
“We found ourselves in a position where, despite all of the measures introduced over time to improve the behaviour of road users and safety in general, little had changed – motorists arrested for very serious transgressions would simply be back behind the steering wheel just a day or two later.”
Amongst others, the new legislation makes more provisions for the impoundment of vehicles, including when:
- The driver is unlicensed
- The driver is under the influence of alcohol
- The driver disobeys an instruction to stop or pull over, resulting in a pursuit
- The vehicle was involved in reckless/negligent driving or illegal street racing
- The vehicle is unregistered, has an expired licence disc older than 90 days, is not roadworthy, or has been abandoned
“The amendments were unanimously approved by the multi-party Portfolio Committee, in a bid to make Cape Town’s roads safer,” said Nqavashe.
Public criticism
Cape Town’s new by-laws have been met with backlash from road users, particularly from the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco).
“We are very disappointed with the new bylaws and especially it seems they are targeting the taxi industry. I mean the taxi industry at the moment is taking a lot of strain,” said provincial chairperson Mandla Hermanus, reports EWN.
“Suddenly it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got an operating licence or not, your vehicle will end up impounded.”
Consequently, the laws have the potential to drive large parts of the taxi industry out of business as they affect thousands of drivers, he said.
In response to the reprimands, Cape Town’s Nqavashe said “What many fail to understand, is that the law is simply that – the law, and it applies to all, equally. The criticism that our efforts and energy should be devoted to ‘real criminals’ is all too familiar, and sadly short-sighted.”
“It is criminal too, to intentionally remove a vehicle’s number plate to avoid detection and consequences for turning public roads into race tracks, and endangering others.”
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