The City is to issue a public apology in mainstream media in compliance with a ruling by the Public Protector afters its contravention of regulations on the issuing of traffic infringement notices.
The ruling resulted from an investigation of a complaint by Howard Dembovsky, chairperson of the Justice Project SA.
The Public Protector found that sending infringements notices, including traffic fines, by ordinary mail contravened the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences [AARTO].
The City said the contravention has resulted in the Johannesburg Metro Police Department spending R10 million a month sending the notices by registered mail since April 2012. In addition, the City now has to spend R100 000 placing an apology of the contravention in mainstream newspapers such as The Star, Sowetan, Beeld, The Times, Citizen, Daily Sun, Business Day and New Age from 23 March.
In upholding the findings, the City stated:
The infringement notices served by the department by ordinary mail for the period August 2010 until 21 December 2012 did not comply with Section 30 of the Act which requires the serving of infringement notices via registered mail.
The department had not implemented AARTO in accordance with the Act during the mentioned period.
Demerit points [in terms of the Act] were neither allocated or deducted during the period and no evidence was found in support of the department’s refunding those who had paid their fines.
Meanwhile, Zwelibanzi Nyanda, head of the department, assured the public that from 22 December 2012, monthly notices had been issued by registered mail at a huge cost, and that they were in discussions with the Road Traffic Infringement Agency, which is responsible for enforcement to roll out AARTO, to ensure payment of infringement notices.
Details: JMPD 011 375 5911.
