SOYISO MALITI
The City of Cape Town says the failure to deliver fines and summonses to motorists can be attributed to the South African Post Office’s poor delivery.
JP Smith, Mayco for safety and security, said it was not a question of the system failing to follow through with the fines and summonses.
“It’s not a testament of anything other than the post office not delivering as it should.”
This comes after a traffic services’s Area North principal inspector, Desré Benadie, was asked for a monthly report at a Sub-council 2 meeting, on Wednesday February 18, on the outcomes of fines and summonses issued in the Kraaifontein area, and amid growing queries about the fining system on the Traffic Fines, cameras & updates Facebook page.
In response, the City launched a pilot project in April 2014 which involved rolling out an SMS reminder service.
Mr Smith said, as explained by Ms Benadie at the sub-council meeting, that it would be impossible to compile the report as each fine would need to be physically traced to check on the status or outcome – to see whether it was paid or still outstanding and whether it had been escalated to summons or warrant stage.
“First notices of fines are still being sent by mail, along with a confirmation SMS to advise people that their traffic fine has been posted,” Mr Smith said.
“The traditional second notice is being replaced by a text message with all the details of the fine as well as payment options. 14 days later, there is a final SMS warning that failing to settle will result in a summons being issued.”
In addition, he said, “it would be very difficult to determine whether a motorist might have opted to make representations in court and also what the outcomes were (postponement or reduced fine)”. Post Office spokesman, Johan Kruger, did not reply to a query from Northern News at the time of going to print.
