By Sipho Tshabalala
 
National Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela conveyed their well wishes to aspirant traffic officers who will embark on the final selection process.
 
The trainee officers were chosen through a rigorous selection process and will be required to undergo a training program that runs for a period of three years. They were gathered at the upgraded Boekenhoutkloof Traffic Training Academy, a Centre of Excellence training facility in South
Africa on Wednesday, 24 April 2024.
 
he trainee officers are part of the National recruitment drive undertaken by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to reduce unemployment and create job opportunities for the youth, women and persons with disabilities.
 
RTMC runs a Trainee Traffic Officer programme, at NQF Level 6 - equivalent to a National diploma, which runs over a period of three years. The qualification was introduced in 2019. 
 
“This new qualification will go a long way towards the professionalisation of the road traffic law enforcement sector, ensuring respect, integrity, discipline, ethics and regaining public respect, as well as improving the ability of officers to enforce the law and reduce road traffic crashes”.

MEC Diale-Tlabela lauded the programme adding that it contributes to Gauteng Government’s programme -NasiIspani- aimed at providing training and job opportunities for young people. She added the efforts would go a long way in combatting vandalizing and theft of critical road infrastructure including traffic lights, streetlights and road signals.

Minister Chikunga indicated that traffic law enforcement training has undergone fundamental changes.
 
“Poor ethical conduct has severely tainted the reputation of traffic law enforcement among road users, and the public in general. This also contributes largely to the lawlessness on the roads as many road users believe they can get away with transgressions through bribery and corruption,” Chikunga said.

She indicated that “all recruits, without exception, have undergone a pre-selection vetting process to check criminal records, verification of qualifications and checking biographical history to determine suitability for selection into the training programme”.

The minister added she was certain the recruitment process has been rigorous enough to uphold high ethical standards. The minister was pleased “to note that about 40% of traffic officer recruits who are due to start training this year are females.

Traffic law enforcement has historically been the domain of men”.