The Department of Transport (DoT) aims to implement a 24/7 shift schedule for traffic police in March 2025 to address the growing culture of lawlessness on the nation’s roads.
Delivering his inaugural address as the new Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa committed that he will remove all the roadblocks that have hamstrung the implementation of round-the-clock visible traffic policing during his tenure.
“This administration will speed up the resolution of all issues that have delayed the implementation of a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, and 365-days-a-year campaign visible traffic law enforcement across the country especially in highly accident-prone zones on our road network,” said Hlengwa.
At present, the Western Cape and the National Traffic Police are the only authorities that have instated the 24/7 shift system.
“It is crucial that all provinces fast track their processes to obtain approval for the implementation of the shift system to ensure visibility of officers on the road daily and at all hours,” said the deputy minister.
“The DoT will monitor and ensure the introduction of the new shift system by 31 March 2025.”
Hlengwa also said that the DoT has allocated R196.99 million over the 2024/2025 and another R204.26 million over the 2025/2026 periods to continue recruiting and training personnel towards strengthening the overall capacities of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC).
In its quest to professionalise traffic law enforcement, the RTMC has been able to revise the current qualification equivalent to a Matric, bringing it to a Diploma level to create a “high calibre of officers and recruits trained for effective professional policing.”
Hlengwa further called upon the Arrive Alive Campaign to “step up its efforts throughout the year, not just during seasonal campaigns.”
More police equal safer roads
Hlengwa indicates that increased visible policing has the potential to contribute to improved road safety and a reduction in car crashes and fatalities.
In 2014, approximately 40 people died on the roads every day and around 184 sustained serious injuries.
Today, these figures have dropped to 34 and 157, respectively, despite a larger population and total vehicle parc.
Likewise, road deaths fell from 12,554 in 2020 to 11,883 in 2023.
“This is attributed to increasing visibility of traffic officers,” said Hlengwa.
Additionally, 24/7 policing will crack down on non-roadworthy vehicles driving around the country every day.
Approximately 10% of vehicles registered in South Africa are not roadworthy and the average age of these vehicles is 11 years, which also contributes to the increased potential for crashes and fatalities.
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