JMPD accused of turning Joburg motorists into cash cows with R7,000 fine pressure
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.
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