The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has partnered with the City of Johannesburg's revenue team to launch its first roadblock in partnership with the city's revenue team. However, legal experts argue that this process is illegal and nonsensical. The JMPD is not allowed to pull over motorists without a legal reason, such as an expired car license, unroadworthy vehicle, expired driver's license, or a warrant for unpaid traffic fines.
The City of Johannesburg responded to claims of illegality by stating that no laws are being broken and that its revenue teams are only at the roadblocks to provide an added service. A pilot roadblock was conducted on September 9th, with the Joburg Ombudsmen on site to ensure compliance. The revenue team approached motorists willing to engage with them, and the city is not forcing them to listen to or engage the revenue team.
The new strategy yielded positive results from the pilot roadblock, with 125 residents updating their contact info, following up on queries, or entering into an Acknowledgement of Debt (AoD). No one was forced to do anything, and these individuals are people the city would have otherwise not engaged with. The city is not trying to catch people out and force them to pay their municipal bills, but the program is meant to boost collection efforts to reduce the city's debt.
Moraka reiterated that any motorist owning rates and taxes would not be arrested, and the strategy is intended to bring the collection service to the residents for convenience.
SOURCE: BUSINESSTECH
