Gauteng motorists beware. Ekurhuleni metro police are out in full force after being rapped over the knuckles for failing to collect R86-million due in fines.
A finance oversight committee report released at a council meeting on Thursday revealed that a paltry R21-million was collected from motorists who had broken the law - an under-performance of 75%.
According to the report, officers' lack of vigour in collecting fines from motorists has been a problem for years.
"The initial response given to the committee was that there were delays with the allocation of the tender for the contravention system.
"This tender is for the installation of traffic cameras, printing of books of fine forms, and [collation of] data from the fines issued in the entire metro," said the report.
"In all quarters of the financial year in question the department continued to fail to meet its targets," the report said.
The committee blamed lazy officers for the high number of road fatalities in the region.
"The department can undertake activities to influence the behavioural change of motorists."
The oversight committee recommended that officers' firearm permits be renewed annually.
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