Tag: Johannesburg metro police

Joburg cancels 6 million traffic fines

More than six million traffic fines issued to Gauteng motorists between April 2009 and December 2012 have been cancelled by the Johannesburg metro police department.

JMPD director Gerrie Gerneke told reporters yesterday that fines issued during this period would no longer affect licensing processes.

Drivers would not be pulled over at roadblocks in connection with them, he said.

“The cases have been taken off the system and marked as ‘finalised’ with a special code.”

Last month, the JMPD announced it had complied with the public protector’s proposed remedial action for issuing infringement notices via ordinary mail instead of registered mail.

On December 18, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela said in a report that the JMPD had acted improperly. The fines did not comply with the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act, she said in her report.

“The acts of the JMPD accordingly constitute improper conduct and maladministration,” she said.

Woman wounded in Roodepoort taxi shooting

taxishootA woman was wounded on Tuesday in a shooting believed to be related to taxi violence in Roodepoort, Johannesburg metro police said.

“The injured female was taken to hospital and four taxis were damaged,” Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said.

The shooting occurred at the intersection of Ontdekkers and CR Swart roads on the West Rand.

He said the road would be closed until further notice to allow police time to investigate. The reason for the suspected taxi violence was not yet known and would form part of investigations.

SA Police Service spokesman Constable Vincent Mashiteng said police were hunting for three man who fled the scene in a blue Toyota Corolla after the shooting.

He said the three were on foot when they started shooting at a taxi and then randomly shot at passing cars.

“At least 10 shots were fired with one hitting the woman who was transported to hospital,” he said.

No one in the taxi was hurt.

The shooting came a day after a Diepsloot man was wounded after taxi drivers in the area went on strike.

The drivers were demanding to be promoted to taxi owners. The man was standing with other taxi drivers when a silver-grey Mercedes-Benz drove up.

An argument ensued between the taxi drivers and the occupants of the car, one of whom opened fire, hitting the man in the lower body.

Mashiteng could not confirm whether the two incidents were linked, but said there had been taxi problems in the area for some time. No arrests had been made. – Sapa