Complex residents fined over speeding couriers — fair or unjust?

Gauteng's Midstream residential estate has a 30km/h speed limit, and some residents have been fined for courier drivers who exceed it.

Another issue is that the homeowners association (HOA) is refusing to share details of the arrangement it has with the service provider that is managing the estate's speed enforcement system.

Senior specialist community schemes Ccnsultant and mediator at TVDM Consultants, Nicole Nel, said it's important to clarify whether the roads within the estate were public, municipal roads, or private roads owned by the HOA.

Nel said that while the HOA can legally impose these rules, there needs to be a level of "reasonableness".

"Is the value of the fine being imposed reasonable for the contravention? There are open roads, there are pets, and there are children playing; safety and security are of utmost importance.

"I believe it's reasonable to regulate it, but I do not believe that R4,000 would be reasonable for a single speed infringement."

Nel also said that warnings before imposing penalties were needed in these cases.

To listen to Nel in conversation with CapeTalk's John Maytham, click below: