Effective and visible traffic law enforcement is the single most important requirement for road safety. This is something that the Musina Municipality is striving to achieve. The municipality has simply achieved this by beefing up its traffic team with 13 newly trained traffic officers.

The energetic team of seven young men and six women underwent a six-month training course at Limpopo Traffic Training College in Mutale and they graduated earlier this month (June). Municipal Spokesperson Wilson Dzebu says the acquisition of the new team of traffic officers will impact positively on law enforcement in the municipality. “Armed with the much-needed knowledge of maintaining sound judgement and reasonable knowledge of human nature, there is no doubt that the standard of service delivery will be enhanced after the acquisition of this zealous team.”

Dzebu says the traffic officers are already involved in maintaining law and order by means of patrol work. “They also have powers of arrest and are always on the look-out for reckless drivers, as well as for non-roadworthy vehicles on our public roads. It is a great bonus that the new team is prepared to work under all conditions and during weekends and public holidays. This team of dedicated traffic officers has been trained to have a warm, friendly approach, but they will be able to be firm and resolute when situations so require. They are also trained to a high standard in everything from safety to dealing with the public, traffic management and documentation.”

He added that the team would also maintain and improve the movement of traffic on the relevant roads over which the municipality has jurisdiction. “They will help in preventing or reducing the effect of anything causing congestion or other disruption to the movement of traffic on our roads. They will be on the roads to save our lives and those of our loved ones. We need to understand that they are not there to scare motorists. Traffic officials might not have the most enjoyable task when they stop road users speeding and carrying lots of emotional baggage with them. If we all obey the rules of the road, we have nothing to fear.”