The City of Johannesburg is wrapping up a competitive bidding process to appoint a new private partner to enhance traffic management services in the City.
We will be able to announce our new partner within the next couple of months.
The well-known and much loved Outsurance Pointsmen services remain in place for the next three months until a new service provider is appointed.
I recently learned that Johannesburg ranks at number 70 (Mexico City ranked at number 1 being the most congested city) out of 189 cities in terms of the *TOMTOM TRAFFIC INDEX where worldwide traffic congestion is measured. Although we not as congested as many other cities around the world, we certainly face many of our own challenges.
On a daily basis, the department receives complaints of bad driving and blatant disregard of traffic laws and rules. The frustration extends to social media where drivers express their anger and frustration, often aimed specifically at the driving behaviour of mini bus taxi drivers.
In order to restore law and order in the City, we have systematically and continuously been enforcing traffic management and By-law enforcement with Operation Buya Mthetho.
For the month of January 2019, amongst others, JMPD has made the following progress:
• 14 drivers were arrested for Reckless and Negligent Driving;
• 209 vehicles were discontinued;
• 351 vehicles impounded;
• 557 were arrested for Driving Under the Influence;
• 12 970 citations issued; and,
• 20 584 vehicles stopped and searched during Roadside checks and Crime Prevention Operations.
In order to ensure road safety and smooth traffic flow, it is important that we not only enforce the laws but also promote safety awareness and encourage public co-operation in changing driver behaviour.
We hope that through the Public Private Partnership to be implemented, we are able to improve traffic management service and minimise traffic congestion.
With the closure of the M2 highway for repairs starting on 28 February 2019, JMPD will deploy additional pointsmen to manage traffic and also increase police patrols and visibility to clamp down on any opportunist crimes such as smash-and-grabs during peak hour traffic.
Residents are encouraged to use our 24 hours Traffic Hotline 080 872 3342 to report any traffic related problems and 011 375 5911 to report any emergencies.
* https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/trafficindex/
Cllr Michael Sun
MMC for Public Safety
City of Johannesburg
For media queries:
Luyanda Longwe
Stakeholder Manager: MMC for Public Safety
luyandalo@joburg.org.za
061 496 0536
Or
Chantelle Fourie-Shawe
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
chantellef@joburg.org.za
081 546 1014
