The Auditor General of South Africa has found that weaknesses in the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport’s traffic management system led to the cancellation of 554,000 traffic fines in 2025.

Manalise Nijisane, a member of the AGSA, said this continued to undermine the department’s ability to improve driver behaviour and recover revenue from traffic offences. Nijisane was briefing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on Tuesday.

The AGSA found that the Software License Register did not align with actual software on the network and unsupported systems were identified.

The software OPUS Integrated Traffic Contravention Management System, implemented at a cost of R190 million with multiple contract extensions, has four of its ten developed interfaces not switched on, while an additional five deliverables remain only partially utilised.

Nijisane explained that the department invested R196 million in Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (EPPM) which included the development of the Oracle Primavera P6 system. He said the system was decommissioned on 14 October 2024 with deficiencies noted relating to underutilisation of software licenses and the Primavera Unifier and Analytics modules only being active for eight months.

Nijisane said that significant control weaknesses in the Traffic Fines Management Process continue to undermine the department’s ability to improve driver behaviour and recover revenue from traffic offences.

In the 2024/2025 financial period, 554,879 traffic fines were cancelled, with 218,643 (40%) rejected due to processing delays beyond 30 days.

“The manual verification, slow and outdated computers, a lack of integration between the OPUS and eNaTIS system and reliance on postal delivery contributed to inefficiencies,” he stated.

Among the recommendations were for the DoT to update and reconcile the Software License Register with actual network software, and phase out unsupported systems to improve cybersecurity resilience and compliance

The AGSA also found that the department’s continued investment in high-value ICT systems has not yielded full value due to poor implementation, underutilisation, and weak controls. Incomplete system integration, reliance on outdated infrastructure, and inadequate software management expose the department to cybersecurity risks, operational inefficiencies, and financial losses.

The AGSA was concerned that the closing balance for irregular expenditure incurred was R34 billion, unauthorised expenditure at R137,000 and fruitless and wasteful expenditure R4.2 million.

With regard to irregular expenditure he said:

“There is a large volume of instances to be investigated, and the department will commence with the investigations once a team has been identified to conduct the determination tests.”

Siboniso Duma, MEC for Transport in KZN, said since he took office the department has improved on all aspects and AGSA recommendations. Duma said his department inherited budget shortfalls that prevented the department from meeting certain requirements.

Duma also touched on the scholar transport budget that he is currently discussing with the various departments.

“There is a reality that we do not have resources. We have a close relationship with the Auditor General and we have improved in audit findings. We will follow up on all matters raised,’ he said.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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