The Assistant Inspector-General of the National Traffic Police, Lt Gen Akok Noon Akok, has revoked the order that imposed various fines on motorists.

The National Traffic Police said in a statement that the order was revoked due to public dissatisfaction with the corrective measures.

“The office of Assistant Inspector General of the National Traffic Police issued on February 9, 2022, standing order bearing letterhead number (061) imposing fines on motorists to reduce those violations and misconducts by motorists on the roads, “he stated.

“The Traffic Department has continued monitoring the interactions of the public on various media outlets and has noticed that most people are not satisfied with these corrective measures. Therefore, I, Lt Gen Akok Noon Akok, the Assistant Inspector General of National Traffic Police, issued this standing order cancelling the aforementioned order from the date of its signature on the 11^th February 2022 AD.”

Decision hailed

The Executive Director for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, yesterday hailed the decision to cancel the order, describing it as a clear demonstration of leadership.

“This is a clear demonstration of leadership that aims at saving the public interest,” Yakani said.

He called for reforms on the streets by ensuring that traffic police officers are not involved in corruption.

“South Sudan Inspect General of Police Act for Cancelling the Order is remarkable and this should be followed up by serious reforms in the Traffic police behaviours especially the officers on the streets. The majority of them across the country are interested in using the traffic rules and regulations to generate income for themselves for personal gains only,” Yakani stated.

“We are proposing for the IGP to establish an effective public complaining mechanism on the behaviour and practise of the traffic police officers on streets,” Yakani urged.

Yakani called for an urgent intervention of the Inspector General of Police into the reported harassment and intimidation of boda-boda riders, who had formerly filed a petition to the leadership of Central Equatoria State for corrupt practises against boda-boda riders.

He said there were boda-boda riders who claimed to be state security officers and were intimidating other boda-boda riders.

Threat to sue

On Thursday last week, the South Sudan Bar Association issued a statement threatening to file a court case against the Ministry of Interior and its Directorate of National Traffic Police for imposing fines on motorists.

The association vowed to sue the Ministry of Interior if the order was not revoked before the end of February 14, 2022.

Ajak Mayol Bior, the Secretary-General of the South Sudan Bar Association, termed the order an “unlawful attempt” by the ministry through the directorate of national traffic police.

“The Bar Association urges the Minister of Interior to immediately suspend the impugned and illegal order. We also urge the Minister to urgently issue appropriate notice to this effect.”

“If this issue is not immediately corrected and in any event, by close of business on Monday, February 14, 2022, the Bar Association will have no option but to move to court to seek conservatory orders.”

He said the order was against the Traffic Act 2003, which regulated the work of national traffic police, and also the Financial Act 2021, 2022, which authorises the parliament to set rates and show that the revenue should be collected by the National Revenue Authority only.

 “Although this was in good spirit and an attempt to bring reforms to the streets of Juba and South Sudan, the traffic Act 2003, which regulates the work of the directorate of National Traffic Police, does not authorise the directorate to legislate and implement such measures,” the association noted.

“The legislative powers are only vested in the national parliament. The rates are set by parliament in the Financial Act of 2021/2022. The collection is done by orders of the National Revenue Authority and not by orders of any acting authority, as this is deemed to be done.”

The order

On Wednesday, the National Traffic Police issued an order unleashing fines to be imposed on those who violate traffic rules. The document bore the signature of the Assistant Inspector-General for the National Traffic Police Lt Gen Akok Noon Akok, and the stamp of the ministry of interior.

The maximum fine amounted to SSP 50,000 and a minimum of SSP 2,000 for anyone who has violated the traffic rules including driving on the wrong path, disobeying instructions, and use of insults.

The order indicated that owners of vehicles without number plates, those with one number plate or with covered number plates would be fined as well as intoxicated drivers, drivers without licenses, drivers with expired licenses and logbooks, and those without logbooks.