CONCERN OVER SHORTAGE OF VEHICLES IN UMNGENI TRAFFIC DEPT
The traffic and licensing manager in uMngeni has again raised concerns about the shortage of vehicles in the municipality’s traffic department.
During a virtual community services portfolio committee meeting, Xolani Nhlangulela, said they were aware of the various issues in uMngeni, including bottlenecks at the uMngeni River Bridge and public drinking near the Agricultural Hall.
He was responding to concerns raised by DA councillor Hazel Lake on the trend of public drinking near the hall, which is an area used by children.
Lake said residents are not adhering to the bylaws and she asked if traffic officers could conduct foot patrols and use municipal vehicles when they go to Mpophomeni and Hilton.
Nhlangulela said the bylaws that were adopted by council do not include drinking in public.
He added that they are trying to address the issue of outstanding bylaws, which include animal bylaws that still need to be discussed and submitted for input.
“Having 14 officers with only two vehicles gives a big challenge because there are many challenges that need to be addressed. With less mobility, it is a challenge to try to cover the area effectively.
“Foot patrols can be done, but imagine an officer with a backpack moving around with [officials] and the vehicle is far from where he is and having no back-up vehicle. Yes, the foot patrol will do but a vehicle is the key for me to do the job successfully and without any complaints,” said Nhlangulela.
He added that traffic officers have had to use vehicles from other municipal departments, but since these vehicles are not marked, he was receiving a lot of complaints from residents.
“… People don’t know the vehicles are used by traffic officers and when they are responding to anything or trying to stop a vehicle, photos are taken and I have to explain what was happening,” said Nhlangulale.
He said it is important for the council to take a permanent decision on having marked vehicles for the traffic department to limit these complaints.
"I would ask myself why this department is not supplied with its own vehicles; is it because the section is not needed to perform as per standard? In as much as I will keep trying to improvise I am appealing to the committee to assist me," he added.
The deputy mayor and chairperson of the committee, Sandile Mnikathi, said he couldn’t fathom why the traffic department still doesn’t have vehicles when there’s a budget for them.
“Not only are we under capacitated, but it’s actually embarrassing in some instances to see how traffic officials sometimes have to fit six people in one car but are expected to pull over overloaded vehicles,” he added.
Municipal manager Mzingisi Hloba said they will provide a clear detailed report with time frames for what’s happening with the vehicles at the next executive committee meeting.
“We will first consider the option of RT15, which is a transversal contract or state tender contract where we can procure traffic vehicles. If that process is not giving the desired joy, we will then go on tender,” added Hloba.