Today, the City of Johannesburg welcomed new 171 traffic wardens to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department.
The Traffic Wardens are former Extended Public Works Program (EPWP) employees who were previously trained to perform traffic pointsman duties.
The Department of Public Safety identified the need to capacitate traffic wardens with additional powers in order to allow them to perform at optimum level.
JMPD Chief of Police, David Tembe, had engaged with the Gauteng Provincial Government and Transport MEC, Dr. Ismail Vadi, agreed to further endow JMPD traffic wardens with additional powers, which include:
1. When in uniform, require a driver of any vehicle to stop such vehicle;
2. Regulate and control traffic upon any public road and give such directions as may be necessary;
3. Require any person to give his/ her name, address, and other particulars or any process which are required for identification purposes if the traffic warden suspects the person having committed an offence; and
4. In respect of any motor vehicle, demand the owner, operator or driver to produce any documents as may be prescribed in terms of the Act.
The Traffic Wardens are appointed under the above National Road Traffic Act of 1996, the Businesses Act 71 of 1996, and the Criminal Procedure Act 51 0f 1977 with all powers conferred upon a peace officer in terms of Criminal Procedure. They are also appointed under the Administration Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act of 1998.
This means they are equipped to enforce bylaws, or issue infringements notices if necessary, and they can also be on point duty.
These Traffic Wardens will also, in the future, be able to render their services to the private sector as well.
This speaks directly to the needs of businesses and public-private partnerships​. The Traffic Wardens will effectively conduct crime prevention while possibly generating revenue for the City.
These 170 Traffic Wardens will also soon be joined by 1 500 JMPD recruits.
Of these recruits, 835 are currently completing their training at the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Satellite Veritas Academy in Meadowlands, which was also officially launched today.
With the intake of the 1 500 recruits, it became apparent that the existing JMPD Training Academy in Booysens would be unable to effectively cope in presenting Metro Police Basic Training to the new recruits.
The Veritas school was identified as a feasible option not only to assist with the training of a portion of the large intake of trainee officers but also for future utilisation by the JMPD to focus on functional, specialised and advanced training for its existing members.
The Academy had received the permission for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), following a compliance audit, to start with the Basic Training of 835 of the recruits. In order to furnish the offices and classrooms, and to renovate the buildings and grounds, it cost the City approximately R 13 million.
The remaining recruits will continue with their Basic Training at the JMPD Academy in Booysens.
As the safety of our residents is of top priority, this launch is essential to ensuring the crucial service of protecting our residents is delivered. A safer city means it is more attractive to investors, which will help grow the economy and create much-needed jobs.
By ensuring that we capacitate the JMPD with the skills it needs, the change voters demanded in August 2016 will become clear.
For media queries:
Chantelle Fourie-Shawe
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
079 030 8445/081 546 1014
Email: chantellef@joburg.org.za
Or
Luyanda Longwe
Stakeholder Manager: MMC for Public Safety
061 496 0536
luyandalo@joburg.org.za
