The City of Cape Town has decided to donate cellphones impounded from motorists rather than auctioning them off.<\/p>\n
City officials confirmed on Tuesday that the change came about because of mobile technology developments that impact on the value of impounded devices.<\/p>\n
Drivers who are caught using their cellphones without legal hands-free kits in Cape Town can have their devices impounded by traffic police. Offending drivers then have to pay R1 140 to have their phones released.<\/p>\n
Phones that aren’t reclaimed by drivers, though, are expected to be given away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the Safety and Security Directorate initially considered auctioning the cellphones, we have subsequently decided to give the cellphones to community-based organisations like neighbourhood watch groups instead,\u201d mayoral committee member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith told Fin24.<\/p>\n
Smith said that the number of phones impounded during the holiday period still has to be verified. However, law enforcement officials collected 2 738 between June and November 2015 and, of those, 1 126 were released, said Smith.<\/p>\n
The city reported that by June, 9 465 cellphones had already been impounded and 4 182 reclaimed.<\/p>\n
Rapid technological development which results in phones becoming antiquated is a key reason for donating the phones.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the cellphones impounded (dating back to 2012) have been overtaken by newer iterations and so there is doubt about whether auctioning them would solicit sufficient interest,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n
He said the mayor will make the final decision on which organisations will receive the mobiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe matter is currently with the executive mayor for a decision about which organisations should receive the devices.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fin24<\/a><\/p>\n City of Cape Town to auction off impounded mobile phones<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n You can buy your mobile back from Cape Town police<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on cellphones<\/h3>\n