In recent months, the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service has executed thousands of warrants for unpaid fines and contempt of court. The City advises motorists to check their fines status and settle any outstanding amounts to avoid ending up behind bars.

In the first five months of this year, City Traffic Officers executed 30 924 warrants.

For April and May alone, the value of the warrants attached to the arrests was over R25 million.

‘Among these arrests were several individuals who find themselves on our list of Top 100 offenders or scofflaws. There is no way that someone can amass dozens, if not hundreds of fines and not be aware of them. Nor is it possible that it is purely accidental. They clearly have no regard for law and order, and are taken into custody when apprehended,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

People who are arrested on outstanding warrants are either released on a warning with a new court date or taken into custody.

There, they have to await a court appearance to apply for bail, and if they are unable to pay the bail amount they remain in custody until their trial date.

In addition, any person with outstanding warrants is unable to transact on the national Traffic Information System (Natis), which means they are unable to renew their vehicle licence, driving licence or transfer ownership of a vehicle.

‘These scenarios need not apply if motorists are accountable for their actions and pay their fines on or before the due date. Ideally, motorists should abide by the law and not incur fines in the first place but we all know that the reality is a very different story. The City thanks those motorists who do take responsibility for their actions and who settle their fines timeously. The scofflaws should take their cue from you, or run the risk of getting into very serious trouble,’ said Alderman Smith.

Since 1 July 2022, the City has switched to Pay@ as the new online and retailer third-party service provider for fine payments.

Motorists are advised that fines and warrants can now be viewed and paid online at www.paythat.co.za – this includes fines pre-dating 1 July 2022.

Other electronic payment methods are available by:

• Card: VISA, Mastercard

• EFT: ABSA, FNB, Nedbank, Capitec, Standard Bank

• Scan to Pay: Masterpass, Snapscan, Zapper, FNB, Nedbank, ABSA

In the event that a motorist wants to pay their fines in person at a retailer, they can pay at selected SPAR shops, if the fine pre-dates 1 July 2022.

Fines issued as from 1 July can be paid at selected SPAR shops, as well as Ackermans, Builder’s Warehouse, Game, Makro, PEP and Pick n Pay.

From 1 August 2022 these fines can also be paid at Shoprite/Checkers Money Market kiosks.

Source: City Of Cape Town