The collection rate of traffic fines in Cape Town dropped to 15.1% in 2025/26, down from the 19.3% achievement recorded in 2024/25.
The City of Cape Town’s traffic fine collection has dropped to 15.1%, prompting the council to shift R115 million within its budget as it blamed lower recoveries, withdrawn fines and difficulties tracing motorists.
This after the council moved the funds from the Finance Directorate towards the expenditure by the Safety and Security Directorate because it did not collect all fines recorded as revenue during 2025/26.
A report tabled to council stated that the assessment of the value of fines as at June 30 resulted in higher impairment provision than what was originally anticipated.
“The increase in the impairment is primarily attributable to increases in fines issued over the 2025/26 financial year which did not translate to the anticipated collection rate observed in the previous financial years,” reads the report.
