The Police and Prisons Rights Union (Popcru) has called for the nationalisation of traffic police under the department of transport.
The call comes comes amid a 3% increase in fatalities since December 1 following an announcement made by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy on Thursday.
The announcement, made by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, has raised concerns about the efficacy of the current fragmented traffic policing structure across provinces.
Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo stated that the existing system does not effectively meet the needs of traffic management, as it is largely decentralised and governed by various provincial structures.
“When you go to different provinces, they are all under different MECs. In some areas, they belong under the Department of Agriculture, while in Gauteng, they are aligned with the Premier’s office,” Mamabolo said.
The call for nationalisation resonates with broader issues raised by the union regarding the dire working conditions faced by traffic officers.
Last week, Popcru president Thulani Ngwenya highlighted the need for better support mechanisms for traffic officers who endure challenging conditions without a bargaining council to represent them. “They should have been engaging as they are part of safety and security,” Ngwenya emphasised.
Furthermore, Ngwenya pointed out that the lack of adequate resources and poor working conditions are detracting from traffic officers’ effectiveness.
“We are calling for the nationalisation. We are calling for the conditions of service to be changed; they are very bad. The cars of traffic officers are not meeting the standard. The cars cannot run in such a way that they can chase criminals on the road,” he asserted.
The union has called for immediate reforms to fill vacancies within the traffic department, addressing organisational challenges that have historically hindered traffic safety initiatives.
Ngwenya argued that the disorganisation within traffic departments across various provinces has prevented officers from implementing a strategic and coordinated approach, which ultimately compromises safety on the roads.
This is not the first instance of Popcru voicing its concerns; earlier this year, the union highlighted severe organisational challenges that had impeded their ability to tackle road safety effectively.
The Star