The most marked change in Cape Town since I was here three months ago is the presence of greatly increased numbers of traffic police. In cars, on bicycles and on foot, in groups and pairs there must be a hundred more of them in Sea Point alone.

(Sea Point, where I'm staying, is a predominantly Jewish community on the Atlantic Seaboard side of Cape Town, with longer days and sunset views)

The traffic police can stop and question anyone for anything, or so it seems, but mostly they stop people for not wearing seatbelts then check your ID and drivers license and look over the car.

My first run-in with them was within two hours of arriving: while tailing delightful cousin Des to my flat she was talking on the phone and a car pulled in between us. She got a R300 fine for using her mobile without hands free.

I've been stopped a couple of times since, once for not wearing a seatbelt, once for no particular reason that I could ascertain.

Noone seems to mind as it's usually a fair cop, they're young and friendly and less intimidating than fully fledged police people.