Crime-detecting cameras near usage
Innocent Selatlhwa | Wednesday March 4, 2026 06:00
According to the publication, cameras to go live in and around Gaborone will detect offences including running a red light, driving over the speed limit, vehicles not registered in accordance with the Act, not wearing a seat belt, using a mobile device whilst driving, failure to obey road markings and signs, and driving on an unauthorised lane.
In the regulations, a police officer, traffic inspector, or any person authorised by the minister shall serve the owner of the alleged offending vehicle with a notice, where an authorised officer is satisfied that the owner of the alleged offending vehicle has committed an offence detected by a detecting device.
Where the notice is for an offence that is detected by an automated detecting device, such notice shall be called a notice of infringement.
The notice shall contain the date the notice is issued; particulars of the owner of the vehicle; particulars which detail the nature of the alleged offence, the applicable fine, how the fine may be paid and where the fine may be paid; identification particulars of the vehicle involved; and a statement about the alleged offender’s right to examine the video footage.
The notice shall also contain a statement that the alleged offender is required to respond to the notice within 14 days of service by appearing at the nearest police station to pay the fine in full, make an election in writing, to have the matter referred to court; nominate another person as the person who was driving the vehicle or had control of the vehicle at the time of the commission of the offence; and the consequence for failure to respond to the notice; and be accompanied by an image which clearly depicts the offending vehicle, date, time, and location of the commission of the offence.
If the notice being issued is for an offence that is detected by a manually detecting device, an authorised officer shall serve the notice to the last known address of the owner of the offending vehicle within 30 days of the commission of the offence, either personally or by registered mail.
Service of the notice shall be proved by an affidavit of the authorised officer who effected service in the case of personal hand delivery. Where the offending vehicle is registered outside Botswana – an authorised officer shall serve the notice on the driver of the offending motor vehicle at a gazetted point of entry; or anywhere within the borders of Botswana; and the driver of the offending vehicle shall be required to pay the fine immediately – before departure; or upon service of the notice on the driver of the offending vehicle anywhere within Botswana.
An authorised officer shall detain the offending motor vehicle if the driver fails to pay the fine.
A person served with a notice referred to shall respond to such notice within 14 days.
An authorised officer may serve an alleged offender who fails to respond to a notice in terms of Regulation 6 with a notice to attend court in accordance with Section 126 of the Act.
An authorised officer shall flag the offending vehicle in accordance with the Road Traffic (Flagging) Regulations, where an alleged offender has been notified of a camera-detected offence but defaults on the payment of the fine thereof.
Any person may request an authorised officer to view images or video footage of an alleged offence, captured on a detecting device. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Regulations, a person shall not be presumed liable for a camera-detected offence committed when yielding the right of way, in accordance with regulations 98 and 139 of the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations, or during the occurrence of an emergency that threatens a person's life or may cause bodily injury.
In December 2025, President Duma Boko launched the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s Traffic Management Centre (TMC) for Greater Gaborone, a project executed at a total cost of P534,164,575. The newly established centre would primarily focus on Greater Gaborone, which includes Mogoditshane, Mmopane, Metsimotlhabe, Tlokweng, and parts of Kgatleng District (Mmamaashia, Morwa, and Rasesa).
Explaining the centre's capabilities, Minister Noah Salakae described the facility as a fully-fledged unit ensuring seamless traffic flow in the city.
“The new traffic signalling project consists of this centre as well as other systems and equipment, including new traffic signals and related equipment such as controllers and uninterruptible power supply, a traffic management system to remotely and centrally control traffic signals, communication equipment to link the field and the centre, and 20 closed-circuit television surveillance cameras,” he said.
“Traffic enforcement equipment comprising 30 red light violation cameras and 11 speed violation cameras strategically located in Greater Gaborone, and Automatic Video Incident Detection cameras located in Gaborone,” Salakae added.
The minister noted that the new facility is not solely for traffic management, as the inclusion of violation cameras would help curb traffic crimes.
Boko hailed the TMC's launch as a solution to identifying cars involved in criminal activities.
“The centre we are launching today has licence plate recognition technology that will be able to identify unregistered vehicles, expired permits, and vehicles involved in criminal activity,” Boko said.