Fifty-two (52) new traffic officers set to make Western Cape roads safer

Fifty-two newly qualified traffic officers are looking forward to making Western Cape Roads safer. They were proud to accept their Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC): Road Traffic Law Enforcement certificates at Gene Louw Traffic College (GLTC) on 8 August 2019. Forty-two of the new graduates will join Provincial Traffic Services, and the rest will start work in four municipal traffic services: Beaufort West (6), Breede Valley (2), Hantam (1), and Swartland (1).

Gcobisa Nyekendala was the top achiever in the 2018/19 course, and she also received three other awards. Ayrton May and Erald Willemse also received special awards at the event.

“Our newly appointed traffic officers will be dealing with a lot of difficult customers on the road,” said Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works Bonginkosi Madikizela. “I urge them to talk to the experienced traffic officers that they’ll be working with, to make sure that they remain grounded and execute their duties with integrity”, he added.

GLTC’s 12-month traffic officer training course is accredited by the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (SASSETA) and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). Anyone wanting to apply for this training must have been conditionally appointed in a vacant traffic officer post. Material is structured into 31 unit standards and course content includes the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA), the Criminal Procedure Act, and guidelines for road traffic law enforcement.

Course participants are also required to successfully complete firearm competency training, first aid training, and basic firefighting training. Trainees from Provincial Traffic Services receive additional driver training, including articulated motor vehicle and motorcycle training. The FETC: Road Traffic Law Enforcement also has a practical component. As in previous years, all the 2018/19 GLTC trainees were deployed at various traffic centres to gain practical experience of traffic law enforcement during the Easter and December holiday periods.

“Only those trainees who show absolute commitment and dedication will qualify to become traffic officers”, said Kenny Africa, Chief Director: Traffic Management at the Department of Transport and Public Works. “A great level of power has been bestowed upon these graduates, and this comes with great responsibility,” he said. Africa reiterated the Western Cape Government’s commitment to making the province’s roads safer, and said that traffic officers should refrain from accepting any kind of bribe or gratification.