Question NW4183 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Reply:

The following response is based on the information provided by three Metropolitan Municipalities, City of Cape Town, eThekwini and Mangaung. The remaining five Metropolitan Municipalities, Buffalo City, City of Joburg, City of Tshwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Ekurhuleni did not meet the deadline for submission of responses. Attempts are being made to obtain the information from the outstanding Metropolitan Municipalities and will be made available on receipt

thereof.

Hereunder are the responses from the responded Metropolitan Municipalities.

Reply by City of Cape Town

(a)"Yes, the City of Cape Town has average-speed-over-distance cameras installed on the M5, Nelson Mandela Boulevard and the N2 incoming.

(b) Yes, there has been a dramatic reduction in road accidents and fatality rates within four months following the installation of the cameras. 11

Reply by eThekwini Metro

(a) "This Municipality does not have any average speed over distance cameras, reason being that the majority of roads into and out of EThekwini are Provincial Roads and not Municipal roads, thus a Provincial mandate.

(b) Secondly it is not really practical in an urban environment where speeding is a short-distance-location problem with the road geometry and environment changing so much over the length. Generally, congestion and traffic signals/stop control would negate its effectiveness. In an urban environment it is the spot speed that is of concern and not the average speed per se. "

Reply by Mangaung Metro

(a) "Yes, the Municipality has procured fixed and mobile cameras. However, the average speed limit prosecution over extended distance requires that where the average offender is not immediately stopped and charged, the issuing authority that wants to use the camera for prosecution purposes shall obtain written permission from the Director of Public Prosecutions for the roads or sections of roads where it intends on doing such prosecution whether such camera is fixed or mobile. Each case is dealt with according to its own merits to make for the operational guidelines in order to ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurements results for fair prosecution the decision whether or not to prosecute still remains in the discretion of the prosecutor.

(b) Yes high volume of speed offenders are apprehended day and night it must a/so be noted that preparations using distance over time measuring

equipment prior to the instrument being used for prosecution purposes should be adhered to , site selection for the equipment to be used in any traffic condition provided that a clear view of identified markers must be visible and adherence to operational procedures for prosecuting guidelines for speed measuring equipment and traffic light violations monitoring equipment.