GOOD Statement by Keagen Gertse,
GOOD Drakenstein Councillor & Caucus Whip
14 May 2025
The GOOD Party in Drakenstein urges the municipality to prioritise road safety and compliance with traffic laws over the use of enforcement as a revenue-generating tool. Mayor Stephen Korabie and the local political leadership have openly celebrated the income generated from traffic fines, pledging to grow this revenue stream by intensifying efforts against motorists. While GOOD supports the mandate of traffic services to uphold the law and penalise offenders, we are concerned that enforcement has become more about profit than safety.
Fines alone have proven ineffective in changing driver behaviour. Instead, the municipality should invest in sustained public education campaigns to inform and empower road users. Education and prevention, not just punishment, must be the pillars of safer roads. Statistics suggest motorists increasingly disregard fines, indicating their limited impact as a deterrent.
GOOD has consistently questioned whether fines are being used as a budgetary line item in Public Safety Portfolio Committee and Council meetings. Our concerns have been met with silence.
In January 2025, 5,173 tickets were paid, generating R1.7 million in revenue.
February saw a slight increase to 5,227 tickets and the same revenue, despite a 7.1% uptick in fines paid.
March registered 4,677 paid tickets, valued at R1.5 million, a 6.3% drop.
Yet accident numbers fluctuated inconsistently during this period: 28 in January, 35 in February, and 16 in March. These figures show no clear correlation between fines issued and improved road safety outcomes.
Using fines as an alternative income stream sets a dangerous precedent. It encourages traffic officials to meet financial targets rather than focus on genuine law enforcement, increasing the risk of over-policing for minor infractions.
South Africa has long explored the implementation of the AARTO demerit system, designed to improve road safety by suspending or cancelling licenses based on accumulated violations. However, such systems cannot succeed if enforcement is driven by financial incentives rather than public safety goals.
GOOD calls on the Drakenstein Municipality to redirect its focus from revenue generation to genuine road safety. Public trust in law enforcement depends on the fair and consistent application of the law, not its exploitation for profit.
Media enquiries:media@forgood.org.za