Top traffic cop fails, gets 93% pay hike

In the normal way of things, an employee gets a salary increase for good performance.

So, one would think that someone who gets a whopping 93% more in his basic wage every month is something of a superstar.

So, consider the case of Japh Chuwe, Registrar of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), the body which administers traffic fines issued in terms of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act.

Despite the fact the RTIA’s annual income was down 42% because municipal authorities are issuing far fewer traffic fines, Chuwe’s basic pay increased from R1.8 million to R3.49 million in the 2016-17 book year.

Under his watch, the RTIA issued just 21 courtesy letters to motorists. Until the minister of transport removed its performance targets, RTIA was required to serve 1.3 million of these letters, along with 1.2 million enforcement orders each year.

In addition, while there were 79 122 Aarto cases heard in court during 2016-17, these delivered only 314 guilty verdicts.

In a country with a shocking road death date, it is worrying that a top traffic law enforcement official, in a position to make a real difference to the carnage, should be rewarded handsomely for seemingly failing to deliver.