A meagre R32 550 – that is all the Eastern Cape Department of Transport has been able to collect for traffic fines issued across the province, with almost R200m still outstanding for the past three financial years, reports HeraldLIVE.

The department’s plan to retrieve the money is to conduct outstanding warrant roadblocks once a week at each station in the province, along with beefing up automatic number-plate recognition inspections for buses at least twice a month.

This was revealed by DA MPL Marshall von Buchenroder, based on an official reply to questions in the Bhisho legislature about the money owed and the plan to collect the fines.

Buchenroder said it was clear that the traffic law enforcement system was broken in the province.

In response, Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe said she was unable to give specific figures for each station as the service was not fully operational.

Buchenroder, meanwhile, said the offenders needed to be traced and demands issued for outstanding fines.

He said the failure by the department to collect the outstanding revenues also jeopardised the department’s ability to provide much-needed services.

‘We need to remember that those who have been issued with fines have broken laws that have been put in place to ensure the safety of our road users.’

Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said a specific process had to be followed when a traffic notice was issued.

'The offender has two options – to either pay on or before the date, or elect to appear before the court to contest the summons. If the offender does not pay or appear before the court, the department must wait for a warrant of arrest to be issued by the court and that takes time,' he said.

Full HeraldLIVE report