Traffic services in Magareng municipality have come to a standstill as road accidents, especially on the notorious N12 which is known for high-speed travelling, pile up.

The cash-strapped municipality doesn’t have funds to refuel its single traffic vehicle. It is only prioritising fuel for service delivery vehicles such as refuse and sewerage trucks.  The licence disc of the traffic vehicle also expired in September, making it illegal on the road.

The five traffic officers in the employment of the municipality are unable to attend to motor vehicle accidents and there is no traffic policing on the roads. Services at the traffic office in Warrenton are also dysfunctional.

Driver’s licenses have not been issued for five years because Warrenton’s roads aren’t favourbale for testing. The driver’s license testing ground is further not complying with regulations. In 2019, a service provider was appointed to fix the testing grounds but didn’t complete the task. This matter is currently under investigation by the Special Investigative Unit (SIU).

Learner license exams have not been conducted since February this year. Since the classroom in which exams were written, was vandalised in 2000, the officers made use of the library hall. The hall, was subsequently partitioned to make room for municipal offices. Despite there being no venue for exams, there is still no will to equip the former classroom with a door, a security door and an air conditioner, to make it operational again.

Community members pay up to R100 to travel 50 kilometres to get to Hartswater, in the neighbouring municipality, to book and write learner’s license exams.

Staff at the traffic office further clean their offices with detergents brought from home.

By failing to recognise traffic policing as an essential service, Magareng municipality is not only failing road users, but it is also placing peoples’ lives at risk.

I will table a motion in Council calling for traffic services to be prioritised. The matter will also be referred to the DA’s legislature spokespersons, to request an urgent intervention from COGHSTA and the Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison.

 

Issued by Deidre Watson, Cllr - Magareng Municipality