Portfolio Committee greenlights amended Traffic By-law
14 May 2026
With the public participation process concluded, the amendments, which focus on the provisions for impounding vehicles and the related penalties, are now making the rounds for final approval.
The Safety and Security Portfolio Committee approved the amended Traffic by-law at a special meeting on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.
The amendments seek to further assist in reducing dangerous behaviour of road users, to regulate vehicle safety and traffic usage, to provide for increased vehicle impoundment and nuisance control in public transport operations.
Central to the amendments are provisions for impounding vehicles and the related penalties, including:
vehicles used in illegal street racing
where the driver is under the influence or does not have a valid licence
the vehicle is being driven on a public road in a manner that is reckless and poses an immediate or imminent danger to the life of passengers, road users, or pedestrians
vehicles fitted with false number plates
‘Following the conclusion of the public participation process, one more provision has been included, allowing for impoundment where the driver operates a motor vehicle causing excessive noise in contravention of Section 46 of the existing by-law. We thank everyone who took the time to participate in the process designed to improve road safety in our city. The amendments allow the City to enforce a no tolerance approach to reckless driving behaviour, help create a safer, more orderly transport system and encourage responsible driver behaviour,’ said the Chairperson of the City’s Safety and Security Portfolio Committee, Councillor Mzwakhe Nqavashe.
The public participation process between 19 September and 7 November 2025 saw 132 submissions, although only 24 were related to the specific amendments.
On advice from legal counsel, no changes are required to the amendments put out for public participation – except the addition to impound on the basis of the contravention of the existing Section 46 of the principal by-law as it relates to vehicles causing excessive noise.
‘The amended by-law is good news for law abiding citizens and anyone who is concerned about road safety. Our Traffic Service cannot keep up with the avalanche of complaints about driving behaviour, and not just in the public transport sector. On top of that, we have a culture of people simply refusing to pay traffic fines or take any accountability for their actions. And that is why we have revised the by-law yet again – to enable our staff to take tougher action against those road users who appear incapable of showing any regard for law, order and the right to life of those around them,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
NEXT STEPS
The amended by-law will serve before the Mayoral Committee for approval before making its way to a full sitting of Council.
Once final approvals are in place, the amendments will be gazetted before implementation.
The amendments are outlined here: https://bit.ly/4nnQWnU
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
