Say cheese and pay your fines

GEORGE NEWS - Georgians couldn't help but notice the pay-your-fine bus parked first here, then there on our roads in recent months.

And those who have outstanding fines probably take a detour when they see it looming ahead. But, whether road users love it or hate it, the municipality is very happy about its acquisition.

According to George Municipality's senior communications officer, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, the pay-your-fine service has generated more than half a million rand in the last four months.

The utilisation of the bus, for a maximum of two hours per operation, is welcomed by the public and has been very successful to date.

Many vehicles were stopped in the roadblocks, and it has generated more than half a million rand in outstanding fines. Traffic services will continue to use this tool of trade as a method to create a culture of paying outstanding fines," Mangqwengqwe said.

New speed cameras

Motorists would have noticed a couple of new stand-alone speed cameras in and around town.

Some of these cameras can be seen on the N2 at the roadworks near the Gwaiing River bridge, which has lately been the scene of many car accidents.

"In order to reduce the accident rate, we have focused on certain identified roads for the installation of additional cameras to reduce speed and to force road users to stay within the speed limit, making our roads safer," Mangqwengqwe said.

CCTV cameras dysfunctional

After a pedestrian died when he was hit by a car in Fotheringham Street, Rosemoor, on Saturday 5 March, George Herald received a letter from a reader asking about the functionality of the CCTV cameras in this street.

The reader asked why the cameras were not working at the time of the accident, and also pointed out other dysfunctional CCTV cameras in critical areas around George.

According to Mangqwengqwe the camera in Fotheringham Street is an old Pelco pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera that currently functions on wireless streaming.

However, because the camera is a PTZ and on wireless, it did not capture the accident.

"In the 2022/2023 financial year, which will start on 1 July 2022, budgetary provisions will be made to upgrade the wireless system to a fibre-optic one, and also to install more updated cameras in the area," he said.One of the new stand-alone cameras at the turn-off to Mujo Restaurant in Knysna Road.

One of the new stand-alone cameras at the turn-off to Mujo Restaurant in Knysna Road.The "pay-your-fine" bus is regularly stationed in different parts of George. Photos: Kristy Kolberg