Durban - “Sorry, we are closed,” was what many motorists heard on Thursday afternoon when they tried to take advantage of the 50 percent amnesty on fines which expired on 31 March.
When The Mercury went to the metro police headquarters in KE Masinga (Old Fort) Road on Thursday, the office was packed, with long queues.
Road traffic transgressors in eThekwini had until 31 March to pay fines at a discounted price after three years of a 50 percent amnesty on fine payments.
The move came after the National Prosecuting Authority instructed the municipality to put the brakes on the amnesty, saying the practice brought the “criminal justice system into disrepute”.
When the doors at the KE Masinga Road office closed at 3pm, motorists who had left work early and rushed to settle their debts were disappointed.
“I knock off at 5pm but today I asked to leave early so I could pay my R2400 worth of fines,” said Umlazi resident Msawenkosi Nzuza.
“Now they're closed, I guess I'll have to pay the full amount. I'd forgotten they close at 3pm.”
Ahmed Ebrahim, from Overport, said he could not find parking. By the time he did, the security guard at the door had stopped people from entering.
“Bad luck for me! I am hoping for another grace period and I won’t repeat my mistake,” he said.
After the doors closed, the administrator had only one thing to say to motorists left outside: “Sorry, we are closed.”
A metro police spokeswoman said it was not known when the next discount period would be.
The Mercury