There is a growing trend of revenue-driven roadblocks implemented by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the Gauteng Traffic Department. These operations appear to prioritise the recovery of outstanding fines rather than addressing the root causes of reckless driving, drunk driving, and road fatalities common in our province. The DA demands that these law enforcement agencies to prioritise traffic safety and crime prevention over revenue collection.
According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), Gauteng recorded a slight decline in fatal crashes, from 494 in quarter four of 2024 to 459 in quarter four of 2025. Fatalities also decreased from 546 to 506. Despite this improvement, Gauteng still accounts for 22% of all national road deaths, remaining the province with the highest share of fatalities.
Data from the recently released 2024/2025 Gauteng Community Safety and Security Annual Report underscores the severity of the problem. In the past year, a total of 2,515 drunk-driving operations were conducted, resulting in 2,597 arrests for driving under the influence. Additionally, 18,480 speed enforcement operations were conducted, resulting in 870 arrests for excessive speeding. In total, 89 motorists were caught driving over 200 km/h in 120 km/h zones, including one reckless driver who was recorded at a speed of 265 km/h.
These figures affirm that the focus of traffic policing should be on saving lives rather than generating revenue on fine collection operations that fail to address the root causes of road fatalities. What is urgently needed is a shift in focus toward crime prevention and comprehensive road safety management, targeting the behaviours that directly lead to crashes, injuries, and deaths.
If the Premier Lesufi-led government truly prioritised road safety, it would introduce a new, people-centred approach that integrates enforcement with technology, data, and education, rather than allowing law enforcement agencies to fall short of this mandate.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would prioritise traffic safety and crime prevention over revenue collection. We would enhance road safety operations in high-risk areas, deploy Average Speed Over Distance (ASOD) systems and speed cameras to deter offenders, and integrate data across agencies to track arrests and convictions. Additionally, we would launch public awareness campaigns to promote responsible road use among motorists and pedestrians.
The DA remains committed to a proactive and preventative approach to road safety, one that prioritises saving lives, reducing fatalities, and restoring public confidence in law enforcement.