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The City of Cape Town has recorded more than 2.7 million traffic offences in just one year, highlighting what officials describe as a serious and worsening problem with driver behaviour and road law compliance across the metro.
The data, covering the period between July 2024 and June 2025, was confirmed by the City’s Traffic Service and presented in an update by Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith. The report outlines a significant rise in key offences, particularly red light violations, which have increased by 49% year-on-year.
“This level of non-compliance places lives at risk every day,” said Smith. “It’s not just about statistics. Every red light skipped is a potential fatality.”
Officials say that a combination of factors – including reckless driving, unlicensed vehicles, and operator negligence – is contributing to the spike in violations. In response, more than 12,000 vehicles were impounded by city and provincial traffic authorities during the reporting period. These included minibus taxis, e-hailing vehicles, and public transport buses, many of which were found to be operating without the necessary permits or roadworthy certification.
Technology Boosts Enforcement
Part of the increase in recorded offences can be attributed to a sharp expansion in the city’s traffic enforcement technology. The rollout of vehicle dash cameras equipped with automated licence plate recognition (ALPR) has allowed enforcement agencies to more efficiently detect and track vehicles with outstanding fines or warrants.
According to Smith, these systems have already helped law enforcement officers execute thousands of previously unresolved warrants. “The new technology is a force multiplier,” he said. “It allows us to act faster and more accurately, especially in cases involving repeat offenders.”
The city has also stepped up surveillance and visibility in areas identified as traffic hotspots, deploying more officers to high-risk intersections and increasing the use of mobile and fixed cameras.
Public Participation Encouraged
To complement law enforcement efforts, the City of Cape Town is encouraging residents to report problematic intersections or dangerous traffic patterns through its e-Services portal. This platform allows the public to submit location-based complaints, which are then used to inform enforcement deployment.
“We cannot do it alone,” Smith said. “We need community members to be active partners in road safety by reporting incidents and helping us identify where our efforts should be concentrated.”
Despite these initiatives, authorities acknowledge that enforcement alone cannot reverse the trend. Changing driver behaviour remains the biggest challenge. The City says it will continue investing in public awareness campaigns, particularly around pedestrian safety, illegal driving practices, and the dangers of ignoring traffic signals.
A Growing Urban Challenge
The surge in offences comes at a time when Cape Town’s road infrastructure is under increasing pressure from a growing population and rising vehicle ownership. Congestion, poor public transport alternatives, and inconsistent law enforcement in some parts of the metro have all contributed to mounting frustration among road users.
Traffic analysts warn that without sustained and coordinated efforts, including improved infrastructure design and stricter driver licensing protocols, the number of offences could continue to rise in the coming years.
Community organisations have also called for harsher penalties for habitual traffic offenders, including vehicle impoundments and longer licence suspensions. Others have criticised a lack of accountability in public transport regulation, with minibus taxis and e-hailing drivers frequently flagged for non-compliance.
Looking Ahead
The City maintains that it remains committed to improving road safety outcomes through a combination of enforcement, technology, education, and community involvement.
“The numbers are high, but they also show that our systems are catching more offenders than before,” Smith concluded. “Now the task is to prevent these offences from happening in the first place.”
As Cape Town enters the final months of the year, officials say the next phase of enforcement will include a focused campaign on festive season road safety, targeting drinking and driving, speeding, and pedestrian awareness.