Photograph: A “fine” welcome to the Western Cape

STAGE FOUR

Bloukrans to George and on to Oudtshoorn

I was somewhat concerned about whether I would get into trouble for being on the N2 freeway on a bicycle. Nobody at Bloukrans could tell me about any alternative routes. I was on the toll road because the bus had dropped me there.

I wondered what treatment I would receive at the toll gate a little way ahead.

I also wondered whether I would notice any differences as I crossed over the Bloukrans Bridge from the African National Congress-ruled Eastern Cape into the Democratic Alliance-controlled Western Cape.

Doing so gave me a flashback to a T-shirt I received as a souvenir of Singapore.

It read: “Singapore is a Fine City … Spitting Chewing Gum on the Pavement $200 Fine; Not Wearing a Seatbelt $1000 Fine; Making a Noise in Public $300 Fine,” and so on.

I pedalled nervously, and quickly, across the bridge where there was a sign forbidding pedestrians from using it and warning any motorist of a two hundred rand fine for stopping on it.

Immediately after the bridge a huge sign welcomed Mellow Yellow and me to the Western Cape while another warned that feeding of baboons would fetch a five hundred rand fine.

COMMENT: Do you think signs threatening fines have any effect?