By OBAKENG MAJE
4 August 2025- It is alleged that motorists in Johannesburg are facing increased victimisation due to political interference in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) operations. The Democratic Alliance (DA) said traffic officers have reliably informed them that they are under pressure to each collect at least R7000 in traffic fines daily.
The DA Gauteng spokesperson for Community Safety and Member of Provincial Legislature (MPL), Michael Sun said this effectively turns law enforcement into a revenue-generating system rather than a public safety service. Sun said they strongly condemn this behaviour and demand that Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi intervene to abolish all revenue-based policing targets and restore ethical and lawful policing.
“To incentivise compliance with these targets, officers are reportedly provided with overtime payments, effectively transforming law enforcement into a commission-based revenue scheme. This pushes JMPD officers to aggressively pursue fines instead of focusing on their duties, such as bylaw enforcement, traffic management and crime prevention.
“While disturbing, these revelations coincide with the common sight in Johannesburg, where the JMPD is increasingly engaging in indiscriminate and excessive roadblocks, particularly at high-traffic intersections, not to ensure road safety or enforce the law but to maximise fine collection,” he said.
Sun further said many of these operations are non-compliant with the National Road Traffic Act and SAPS Standing Orders. By reclassifying illegal roadblocks as “roadside checks”, JMPD evades crucial legal requirements, including proper authorisation by a senior officer, clear signage, adequate warning to motorists, among others. He added that these legally indefensible roadside checks exist solely to extract revenue from struggling motorists, many of whom are already facing economic hardship.
“They do not contribute to regulating traffic flow, reducing accidents, or ensuring public safety; instead, they foster abuse, selective enforcement, and an erosion of public trust. A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would put an end to revenue-based policing targets, restoring integrity to JMPD operations. It would ensure that all traffic and metro police activities comply with the National Road Traffic Act, with roadblocks being properly authorized, documented, and justified.
“The focus of traffic and metro police would shift towards accident prevention, crime deterrence, and alleviating congestion, rather than serving as a mobile cash register. The DA has already submitted written questions to Lesufi, requesting a comprehensive response to the alleged unlawful instructions given to JMPD, the legality of the roadblocks and the use of public resources for these questionable operations,” said Sun.
He said they are currently awaiting a response regarding this matter. Sun said Johannesburg residents deserve a law enforcement service that upholds the law, not one that abuses its powers.
“The DA is committed to ensuring that they get exactly that and are not turned into ATMs to fund a failing Lesufi-led government,” he said.
The Guardian 