Nelson Mandela Bay Seeks Halt on Traffic Demerit System
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is requesting President Cyril Ramaphosa to postpone the launch of a new traffic demerit system. The municipality argues that there is a lack of sufficient funding, equipment, and capacity to implement the system effectively.
Challenges in Implementation
Officials warn that without proper resources, the implementation could lead to delays, public dissatisfaction, and revenue losses. The city currently has only a scanner and printer to handle traffic fines, which may not suffice for the increased volume.
- Additional expenditure of R4 million on devices might be necessary.
- Potential revenue loss from uncollected traffic fines could amount to hundreds of thousands of rand.
Schedule and Phases
The new driving licence regime is planned to commence on December 1. The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) demerit system is scheduled to follow after ten months. Nelson Mandela Bay is part of the second phase of this rollout, along with several other municipalities in the Eastern Cape.
Unpreparedness Concerns
A report by safety and security executive director Shadrack Sibiya highlighted the municipality's unpreparedness, noting that traffic officers have not been trained or registered to issue fines, and the account with the Government Printing Works has not been established yet.
Author's summary: Nelson Mandela Bay urges delays on the new traffic demerit system due to inadequate resources and readiness, aiming to prevent delays, frustration, and revenue losses.