Four people were arrested and eight others charged for speeding on the N12 on Sunday morning, said the Ekurhuleni metro police.

Spokesman Inspector Jimmy Maboko said four people were arrested by the metro police's Speed Unit on the N12 at the Reading interchange in Alberton.

The speed limit on the highway is 120 kilometres per hour, but the four arrested were doing between 196km and 197km an hour.

He said the excuses they used including that "I was late for church, my mother is sick, and I must take my wife to the airport".

The four have been locked up at Alberton police station and must meet R1500 bail to be released.

He said they had been charged with reckless and negligent driving. One person has also been charged for having a false registration plate.

Maboka said a further eight people were charged with travelling at speeds of between 160km and 180km an hour.