JMPD has strongly denied allegations that its officers are required to collect at least R7,000 in traffic fines each day. The claim was made by Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson for community safety, Michael Sun, who alleged that several officers approached the party with concerns over the pressure to meet daily fine targets. According to Sun, officers reported that those who reached the target would qualify for overtime pay, creating an incentive to issue fines rather than focusing on bylaw enforcement, traffic management, or crime prevention.
The DA argues that this practice shifts policing priorities away from public safety and towards revenue generation, pointing to an increase in police roadblocks often set up at busy intersections as evidence. Sun further claimed that many of these operations are classified as “roadside checks” to bypass the stricter legal requirements of the National Road Traffic Act and SAPS Standing Orders, which demand senior authorization, proper signage, and clear warnings to motorists.
The party has called on Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to intervene, scrap any revenue-based policing systems, and ensure public safety remains the JMPD’s main focus. It has also submitted formal questions to the Premier seeking clarity on the legality of these alleged quotas, the roadblocks, and the allocation of public resources.
JMPD’s Response
JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla dismissed the DA’s accusations, stating there is no traffic fine quota in place. He emphasized that fines are issued solely for observed traffic violations, not to meet revenue targets.
“It is important to clarify that while issuing citations is part of enforcing traffic regulations, there is no quota system officers must follow,” said Fihla. “Our focus is ensuring compliance with traffic laws to prevent accidents and safeguard all road users not generating a specific number of fines.”
Fihla added that officer performance is measured on their overall contribution to community safety rather than the volume of fines issued. “The integrity of our operations is paramount, and all actions are carried out in full compliance with the law,” he stressed.
Financial Pressures on the City
The allegations come at a time when Johannesburg is facing a severe financial crisis. The Auditor-General has flagged over R22 billion in irregular expenditure, alongside hundreds of millions in wasteful spending. National Treasury has warned that funding to the city could be reduced if the situation is not addressed, giving Mayor Dada Morero just 14 days to respond.
Julius Kleynhans, Executive Manager for Local Government at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), said the city’s financial troubles are a sign of poor accountability and weak governance. “Over the last five years, Johannesburg has been a target for looting, and without consequences for those responsible, it’s hard not to question whether leadership is complicit,” he said.
Kleynhans argued that Johannesburg needs competent leadership, stronger oversight, and performance measures focused on service delivery and economic growth. “Last year the city received R7.12 billion for free basic services, yet it cannot account for the households that benefited. The same goes for infrastructure grants residents can see the money hasn’t been spent effectively,” he added.
While the mayor has assembled a “bomb squad” to investigate service delivery failures, OUTA believes that without leadership changes, meaningful improvements are unlikely. “If we had competent leaders in place, the system could work but the political interference must stop,” Kleynhans concluded.
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