The municipality will benefit from every penny we bring in": During the holiday season, Tshwane imposes R5 million in fines.

In an interview with TimesLIVE, Tshwane community safety MMC Grandi Theunissen stated that fines were issued during December and up until January 10 in order to restore law and order. Motorists and businesses that violated municipal bylaws and traffic rules during the holiday season will be required to pay a total of R5 million in fines.

We are much more concerned about the safety of road users because we are serious about reducing road fatalities and accidents. We will be back on the road over the Easter weekend, so bus and taxi operators should pay attention.

Increase of fines

According to Theunissen, 102 businesses violated safety and health regulations and other municipal bylaws. Numerous violations were discovered, despite the city's warnings and communication regarding a safe holiday campaign. Consequently, 9,210 infringement notices totaling more than R5 million were issued, he stated.

He stated that the Tshwane metro police department made arrests for illegal trading, driving while intoxicated, and reckless and negligent driving. Theunissen stated that he was certain that motorists would pay their fines, and he also stated that doing so would raise revenue for the municipality. Due to a high level of debt owed to the metro by businesses and residents and a decrease in revenue collection, the metro has experienced financial difficulties over the past three years. He stated, "The municipality will benefit from every cent we can raise."

Fikile Mbalula, minister of transportation, made the announcement on Tuesday that 1,451 people would die on the roads during the festive season in 2022/23. He stated that this was a decrease from the 1,685 deaths that were recorded during the holiday season in 2021/22.