The majority of traffic fines issued to senior politicians and their departments in Gauteng went unpaid because official vehicles were exempt, according to a report on Saturday.

An unnamed traffic prosecutor said most of the fines issued to provincial vehicles were cancelled, the Saturday Star reported.

"But the problem is that these fines still get issued and in the end they are cancelled once the drivers themselves, who are exempt from prosecution, make us aware of the relevant fines."

In the past year, Economic Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu received fines of over R130 000.

Her office responded that a policy was in place which held the driver accountable for payment of each fine.

Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi's department was issued with nine traffic fines amounting to R6750, while Mmemezi's own vehicle incurred fines of R6250.

His office said fines were returned to the traffic authority with affidavits so that the fines could be re-issued to the driver responsible.

Chairperson of Justice Project SA Howard Dembovsky said the electronic national administration traffic information system did not recognise exempt drivers and vehicles.

This meant issuing fines to politicians was "an administrative waste of time and resources".