The DA in Gauteng says Johannesburg motorists are being unfairly targeted by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), where officers are reportedly being pressured to issue at least R7,000 worth of fines per day, a directive the party says is turning law enforcement into a revenue-collection scheme.

In a statement, DA Gauteng spokesperson for Community Safety, Michael Sun MPL, revealed that JMPD officers have come forward with allegations that they are “under pressure to each collect at least R7,000 in traffic fines daily,” compromising the department’s core public safety role.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla denied the existence of any quota system within the department.

“The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department has been made aware of the allegations made by the Democratic Alliance,” said Fihla.

“We would like to emphasise that our enforcement operations are conducted with the primary goal of maintaining safety and order on the city’s roads.”

Fihla further explained that while officers are expected to issue citations when motorists violate traffic laws, doing so serves as a necessary corrective measure to address lawlessness, curb unsafe behaviour, and promote a culture of responsibility among all road users. 

The DA says these allegations effectively turn law enforcement into a revenue-generating system rather than a public safety service

“The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly condemns this behaviour and demands that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi intervene to abolish all revenue-based policing targets and restore ethical and lawful policing.”

The DA claims that in a bid to meet these targets, officers are being offered overtime payments, which function as an informal commission system, incentivising them to focus on issuing fines rather than enforcing bylaws, managing traffic, or preventing crime.

“These revelations coincide with the common sight in Johannesburg, where the JMPD is increasingly engaging in indiscriminate and excessive roadblocks,” Sun said.

He accused the department of targeting high-traffic intersections not to ensure safety but to “maximise fine collection.”

Many of these roadblocks, according to the DA, are not compliant with the National Road Traffic Act and SAPS Standing Orders, often lacking proper signage, senior authorisation, and adequate warning to motorists.

The DA further alleges that by rebranding these illegal operations as “roadside checks,” the JMPD evades necessary legal protocols.

“These legally indefensible roadside checks exist solely to extract revenue from struggling motorists, many of whom are already facing economic hardship,” said Sun.

“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,” he said. 

Fihla said: “It is important to clarify that while issuing citations is an expected part of an officer’s duty to enforce traffic regulations, there is no quota system that they are expected to follow,” Fihla said.

“The department’s focus is on ensuring compliance with traffic laws to prevent accidents and protect the lives of all road users, not on generating a specific number of fines.”

He added, “The performance of our officers is measured by their overall effectiveness in creating a safer environment for the community, and one of the ways is to issue citations, not by a predetermined target for fines.

”The integrity of our operations is paramount, and all actions are taken in strict accordance with the law,” said Fihla. 

Sun stated that a DA-led Gauteng government would abolish revenue-based policing, ensure all traffic operations are lawful, and redirect metro police focus toward accident prevention, crime deterrence, and congestion relief.

The DA confirmed it has submitted written questions to Premier Lesufi, demanding clarity on the alleged unlawful JMPD directives, the legality of the roadblocks, and the use of public resources.

“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,” Sun said. 

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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