By Mapaballo Borotho
- Traffic officers in Rand West City have reportedly stopped working overtime and weekend shifts due to alleged non-payment by the municipality.
- Concerns have also been raised about officers patrolling dangerous roads without firearms.
- The DA says the lack of traffic enforcement poses a serious safety risk, especially over long weekends.
Traffic officers in Rand West City have reportedly stopped working overtime and weekend shifts, amid concerns that the municipality has failed to pay them.
Motorists have now been urged to consider opening criminal cases against the Rand West City Local Municipality, as concerns grow over the lack of traffic officers working on weekends.
The situation has sparked even more concern due to the fact that many accidents also take place over long weekends, when roads are often busier.
An investigation by Kaya News has revealed that traffic officers in the municipality have stopped working overtime shifts, including on weekends, because the municipality allegedly failed to pay them.
The DA in the municipality says this is of grave concern, as there are fewer officers available to patrol the roads at night and during the day and monitor dangerous driving.
The party says leaving public roads without adequate traffic monitoring creates a serious safety risk for motorists and other road users.
DA mayoral candidate Jacques Julius says his party has received numerous complaints about the dysfunctional state of the Rand West City Local Municipality.
He says the municipality is in financial distress and is struggling to deliver basic services.
Julius has also confirmed that the DA has lodged a formal complaint with the Public Protector over the situation.
“They will be in huge trouble, because by law they are supposed to be there working. If they are not there then our residents are in trouble. This is a very worrying thing,” he said.
Traffic officers without firearms
Kaya News has also uncovered that traffic officers are being deployed to some of the municipality’s dangerous roads without firearms, raising further concerns about their safety.
Traffic officers have told Kaya News that doing their jobs without all the necessary equipment is difficult, particularly when approaching drunk or dangerous drivers, which they say puts them in a compromising situation.
The concerns come as traffic officers are expected to monitor roads and deal with motorists who may pose a danger to themselves and other road users.
Municipality acknowledges financial challenges
In an interview with Kaya News, Rand West City Mayor William Matsheke acknowledged that the municipality is struggling to collect revenue from water and electricity services.
Matsheke says the municipality’s financial problems have affected its ability to pay traffic officers for overtime and purchase the firearms they need for their work.
The situation has raised questions about the municipality’s ability to maintain adequate traffic enforcement and protect both motorists and officers on the roads.
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