City of Cape Town concerned about the backlog in traffic courts

Loyiso Langeni
08 November 2013

The City of Cape Town is currently negotiating with the Department of Justice to appoint additional magistrate to the traffic courts which are completely controlled by national government. 

Western Cape Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said these courts are experiencing capacity constraints which are hampering traffic enforcement. 

Smith added they are parts in the new legislature made by the national minister that says that you are not allowed to give a fine to a person who has exceeded a speed by more that 30km/h, and that person has to appear in court.

About 600 cases out of the 44 000 case that have generated are being read by the court, we are appealing to the national government and MEC Carslie to help us resolve this matter, because it is exclusive within their control it might  require that the national minister will need to change the law back the way it used to be or he will have to provide additional resources for the court which is the preferred solution but I’m not sure the national government is prepared to do so,” Smith said.