The system was launched with the help of Integrat -- a wireless application service provider aggregator -- which provided the gateway services between cellular networks and 2BigMobile.

'We are aware of the delays that the public has been experiencing in getting responses to SMSes sent to the number 36997, to query their traffic fines for Johannesburg. The delays are caused by the huge volumes that were not anticipated on the day of the launch,' states Lucky Seuoe, director of 2BigMobile.

2BigMobile developed its own systems for the notification service, however, according to George Mcfie, director of Integrat, his technical team is currently assisting the mobile content provider to rectify the problem.

'Integrat has managed to help to unblock the flow of responses back to the public by adding a slight delay to the system,' adds Mcfie. 'The problem is not yet solved, but the situation is being managed.'

However, by the time of going to print, all of the requests for the day had been honored, he claimed.