Ubuntu: Where it is all fine, fine, fine

15 December 2015 - 02:25 By Shaun Smillie

Speed traps are money-spinners, probably the most hated speed camera in the country is set up outside Richmond, a blip of a town in Northern Cape. It lay in wait, just past Merriman Meats butchery on the N1 highway hidden by a rise and a slight bend to the right.It was probably the most hated speed camera in the country, set up outside Richmond, a blip of a town in Northern Cape.The internet is full of stories by victims of the "sneaky" camera situated in an 80km/h zone, roughly halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg.The good news is that camera is no longer there. The bad news is that this automaton has been replaced by traffic officials who are busier than ever.Ubuntu municipality, of which Richmond is a part, relies on speeding motorists to fill its coffers.The small municipality has a population of only 18,601 people according to the 2011 census.Last year, 49% of its revenue came from speeding fines: The R18.5-million the municipality sought in service charges and the R2.5-million it sought in property taxes is nothing compared to the R52-million it issued in traffic fines that year.Not bad for a municipal area where, according to the national census, only one in four residents has access to a car.But the citizens of Ubuntu say the speed traps don't trap locals."The traffic police are doing a great job. They are really catching people," said Richmond resident Simon Renoster. "But we know where the traps are."The cops are actually quite nice, said another Richmond, resident who didn't want to give his name."Sometimes you park on the wrong side of the road, and they will come and ask you nicely to move to the other side," said the resident.It is the outsiders who get caught as they speed down the N1 and N12 highways that cut through Ubuntu.Last year an Ubuntu municipal traffic official is said to have collected 980 fines during the festive season while manning a camera on the national roads.Motorists are only stopped when they exceed the speed limit by more than 40km/h."When we issue a fine, we stop you," said a Northern Cape provincial traffic officer who didn't want to give his name as he is unauthorised to speak to the media."I want to know why you are speeding. I want to see if there is something wrong, if you are intoxicated. How would I feel if I let you go and you caused an accident?"Ubuntu did not respond to questions asked by The Times about how dependent it was on the fines to stay afloat.According to Treasury, municipalities are expected to use their revenue for infrastructure.The average monthly income in the area is R1,200 and many residents, like Wilfred Philander, earn far less. The Victoria West farm labourer earns R100 a week, and has three children to support.He hopes next year to find work on a road project in town, paid for by those motorists speeding down the highway. $("#sidebar").hide(); $(".related_small").hide(); lj..

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