THE City of Johannesburg has decided not to renew a contract with a service provider who dispatched points men to manage traffic across various hotspots.
The Department of Public Safety made the decision on August 5, thus, services being rendered will come to an end at the end of August.
This comes as Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) upgraded its function and appointed an additional 180 traffic wardens who will be deployed to ensure that traffic continues to be managed efficiently.
This process is part of JMPDs legislative and core mandate to ensure a free-traffic flow while ensuring driver, passenger and pedestrian safety.
However, it is unfortunate that the service provider is spreading rumours of impending “traffic chaos” once they cease to render their services to the City. The MMC for Public Safety, Michael Sun, wants to assure residents that these claims are unfounded as that risk is already being managed for a smooth implementation.
MMC Sun said, “Our position is a simple one, the interest of our residents comes first. The City of Johannesburg welcomes any constructive and beneficial partnerships with service providers through proper means. We won’t be bullied by corporates.”
Johannesburg is a fast growing City with the most number of motor vehicles on the roads outnumbering other metropolitan cities significantly.
Residents should continue to make use of the 24 hours traffic hotline, 080 872 3342 which was launched in March 2017 by MMC Sun and City of Johannesburg mayor, Clr Herman Mashaba. Residents can report any traffic-related incident. Once a call is received, the call centre agent will despatch points men where they are needed to ease congestion.
As a legislated provider of traffic management in the City of Johannesburg welcomes proper and mutually beneficial public-private partnerships to be the force multiplier of traffic management in the City.
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