South African drivers are being urged to exercise caution when paying traffic fines online, as the rise of fraudulent third-party websites poses a growing risk to motorists.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Criminal defence attorney William Booth recently spoke to Cape Talk about the dangers of relying on unofficial platforms for fine payments. He stressed that such sites may provide incorrect or falsified information, potentially leading drivers to pay fines they do not owe.
“Many of these sites may appear legitimate, but their accuracy is not guaranteed,” Booth said. “Some may even charge higher amounts than necessary, primarily because they earn commissions from payments.”
Booth warned that notifications from third-party platforms often urging immediate payment can be misleading. Even when information appears authentic, errors can occur, and motorists may be misled into paying unnecessarily.
Rising Scams Targeting Drivers
South Africa has recently seen a surge in traffic fine-related scams. PayCity, one of the country’s official fine payment portals, reported in August 2025 that fraudsters were sending fake notifications pretending to be from their system. These messages often include fraudulent payment links not associated with the official paycity.co.za domain. PayCity advised drivers to only use the official website for payments and to ignore any suspicious links.
Understanding New Traffic Laws
The introduction of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act is changing how traffic fines are administered. The first phase of the system will roll out on 1 December 2025 across 69 municipalities, followed by an expansion to 144 more in April 2026.
A key feature is the demerit point system, which assigns points for traffic infringements. Accumulating 15 points results in a nine-month licence suspension, and repeating this three times can lead to permanent revocation of driving privileges.
Motorists who receive an infringement notice have 32 days to respond. Paying within this period grants a 50% discount. Failure to pay results in a courtesy letter, followed by another 32-day window before an enforcement order is issued. While under an enforcement order, drivers cannot renew licences, permits, or licence disks until compliance is achieved.
Advice for Safe Payments
Booth advises drivers to verify all online platforms before making any payment and to ensure that notifications are legitimate. He recommends using official sources such as municipal websites or the RTIA’s official channels to confirm fines.
“With scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s crucial for motorists to double-check every notification,” Booth said. “Avoid rushing to pay fines through unknown platforms doing so could cost you more than just money.”
Related article: New Traffic Fine Scam Targets South African Drivers Through Fake PayCity Messages
