{"id":172973,"date":"2017-05-02T15:25:24","date_gmt":"2017-05-02T13:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=172973"},"modified":"2017-05-02T15:25:24","modified_gmt":"2017-05-02T13:25:24","slug":"paying-traffic-fines-vs-paying-bribes-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/172973\/paying-traffic-fines-vs-paying-bribes-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Paying traffic fines vs paying bribes in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Speeding motorists made headlines again this past weekend after the Ekhuruleni traffic department confirmed it had arrested five motorists on Monday morning for driving well above\u00a0the 120km\/h speed limit.<\/p>\n<p>According to a report by <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.news24.com\/SouthAfrica\/News\/late-for-the-match-speedster-clocked-at-237kmh-tells-police-20170501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">News24<\/a><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.news24.com\/SouthAfrica\/News\/late-for-the-match-speedster-clocked-at-237kmh-tells-police-20170501\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0<\/a>, four speedsters were arrested for driving between 166km\/h and 181km\/h while a fifth motorist, a\u00a041-year-old man with three teenage passengers, was arrested for driving 237km\/h in a Nissan Skyline GTR sport.<\/p>\n<p>In line with the prescribed traffic laws, all five were released on R1,500 bail each but will now also face a magistrate&#8217;s court decision and possible sentencing.<\/p>\n<p>According to\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/government\/179362-at-what-speeds-you-will-be-fined-and-arrested-for-speeding-in-south-africa.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">JPSA chairman Howard Dembovsky<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0drivers will be arrested and criminally charged for speeding if they:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Exceed the speed limit by\u00a0more than 30km\/h on a public road within an urban area.<\/li>\n<li>Exceed the speed limit\u00a0by\u00a0more than 40km\/h\u00a0outside of an urban area or on a freeway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cUpon their conviction, their driving licence must be suspended for a minimum period of 6 months upon first conviction, 5 years upon second conviction, and 10 years upon third and subsequent convictions,\u201d said\u00a0Dembovsky.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Cost of fines\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Traffic-cop.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-96893 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Traffic-cop.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Traffic-cop.png 600w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Traffic-cop-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>South African traffic fines are currently prescribed by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) and provincial government. As a result provincial fines may differ slightly.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Western Cape traffic department, offences and fines are divided into three categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Serious offences: R1,500 to R5,000<\/li>\n<li>Typical driving offences: R1,500 to R 3,000<\/li>\n<li>Not so serious offences: R500 to R1,500<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The fines prescribed for more serious offences include:<\/p>\n<div class=\"bt_table\">\n<div class=\"table-responsive\"><table class=\"table\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"6\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th bgcolor=\"#CCCCCC\" width=\"70%\">Offence<\/th>\n<th bgcolor=\"#CCCCCC\" width=\"30%\">Fine amount<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Operated a vehicle of which the total combination mass as determined by the vehicle manufacturer has been exceeded by 1,601-1,800kg (Vehicle &lt;3,500kg)<\/td>\n<td>R5 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Axle massload as determined by the SABS or tyre manufacturer has been exceeded by 1,601-1,800kg (Vehicle &lt;3,500kg)<\/td>\n<td>R5 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Passed a vehicle at an unsafe place<\/td>\n<td>R3 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No Roadworthy Certificate. Bus\/Midibus\/Minibus<\/td>\n<td>R3 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Organised \/ Taking part in a Race\/Sport on a public road without permission<\/td>\n<td>R3 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No Professional Driving Category P Permit.<\/td>\n<td>R3 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Operate unroadworthy motor vehicle<\/td>\n<td>R3 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Disregard No Overtaking<\/td>\n<td>R2 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users<\/td>\n<td>R2 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Employing \/Permitting an Unlicensed C\/EC Driver to drive a motor vehicle<\/td>\n<td>R2 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Disregard Yield Pedestrian Sign<\/td>\n<td>R2 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fail to comply with instruction, direction or obstruct, hindered, interfere Traffic Officer<\/td>\n<td>R1 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Fail to stop vehicle on command of Traffic Officer<\/td>\n<td>R1 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Overloading a vehicle with max 56,000kg combination mass by 12-13.99%<\/td>\n<td>R1 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Employing \/Permitting an Unlicensed Driver to drive a motor vehicle<\/td>\n<td>R1 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>156-160km\/h in a 120km\/h zone<\/td>\n<td>R1 500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>151-155km\/h in a 120km\/h zone<\/td>\n<td>R1 250<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Driving without a driving licence<\/td>\n<td>R1 250 \u2013 R2 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Disregard Stop \/ Yield<\/td>\n<td>R1 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Cost of bribe\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/bribery.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-136053 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/bribery.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/bribery.jpg 630w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/bribery-300x190.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With such heavy fines and possibly even jail time on the line, the Ethics Institute&#8217;s South African Citizens&#8217; Bribery<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tei.org.za\/images\/pdf\/Citizens-Bribery-Survey-2016-FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0survey<\/a> for 2016\u00a0revealed that more and more South African motorists are choosing to bribe traffic officials.<\/p>\n<p>According to the survey, a third of people reported that they knew someone who was asked to pay a bribe this year &#8211; significantly higher than the 26% in 2015. In addition, of the 33% of participants who said they knew someone who had been asked to pay a bribe, almost 60% said that the bribe was paid.<\/p>\n<p>The average bribe amount mentioned was R2,201, slightly up from R2,005 last year.<\/p>\n<p>While the\u00a0most frequently mentioned bribe amounts were R50 and R100, the median bribe amount was R700 (the median being the midpoint on the list of all the amounts mentioned by participants.)<\/p>\n<p>56% of the bribes reported were below R1,000,\u00a0while\u00a091% of bribes were reported to be below R5,000 &#8211; indicating that very high bribe values were rare.<\/p>\n<p>That said, according to the report, in 2016\u00a0there were significantly more bribes in the R5,001 \u2013 R10,000 category, indicating a continuing trend upward.<\/p>\n<p><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Bribe-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-172995 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Bribe-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"744\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Bribe-2.jpg 560w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Bribe-2-226x300.jpg 226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Corruption Watch in April, associate professor at Wits University\u2019s School of Governance, William Gumede, warned that corruption is becoming so widespread in South Africa that there is a danger of it becoming viewed as normal.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Once it becomes normalised in society, it will be almost impossible to eradicate it,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Corruption becomes institutionalised when public officials do not follow the rules set down in a country\u2019s constitution and legislation. Once this happens, government business is done on shady terms such as patronage and clientelism.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSouth Africa is in a real danger of following the same pattern where corruption becomes institutionalised,\u201d Gumede said.<\/p>\n<p>While the focus is often on &#8216;high level&#8217; corruption &#8211; such as government and white collar corruption in business &#8211; citizens must also actively avoid their own every-day temptations to engage in corruption,\u00a0Corruption Watch said.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Read:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/171601\/5-big-brand-cars-that-people-arent-buying-in-south-africa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">5 big brand cars that people aren\u2019t buying in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Speeding motorists made headlines again this past weekend after the Ekhuruleni traffic department confirmed it had arrested five motorists on Monday morning for traveling well over 120km\/h  &#8211; with one motorist exceeding 237km\/h with three teenage passengers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":157197,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11119],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-172973","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motoring","tag-headline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172973","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172973"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172973\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":173005,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172973\/revisions\/173005"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/157197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172973"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172973"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172973"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}