BREAKING | Police cancels controversial fines against motorists

JUBA — South Sudan’s ministry of interior has cancelled a controversial fine that it had imposed two days ago on motorist sparking uproar among citizens on social media.

Earlier this week, the Directorate of National Traffic announced penalties for various traffic offenses ranging from 2,000 to 50,000 SSP for different violations including reckless driving, driving with an expired logbook, and driving a numberless vehicle.

Some motorists voiced their concern on the new penalties pronounced by the police and also the bar association threatened to sue the ministry for the fees.

In a statement, the Assistant Inspector General for Traffic police, Gen. Akok Noon Akok said the fines have been reversed owing to public outcry over the matter.

“The office of Assistant Inspector General of the National Traffic Police issued, on February 9th 2022, standing order bearing letterhead number (061) imposing fines on motorists’ in order to reduce those violations and misconducts by the motorists on the roads,” he said in a statement on Saturday evening.

“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 aforemented order from the date of its signature the 11th February, 2022 AD.”