Public clamours for Ngcozi’s appointment

Social media has been inundated with posts calling for the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison to hire popular traffic cop volunteer and comedian Bethuel “Ngcozi Yebo” Nkuna.

Ngcozi has been voluntarily controlling traffic at the four-way junction at Teka Takho Crossing since 2016. He has been doing this freely during peak hours from Monday to Friday, even on rainy days. In 2018, our sister publication, Mpumalanga News, reported how Ngcozi, wearing his reflector jacket, assisted road users at the busy corner during crucial times. He also helped learners to safely cross the road to nearby schools.

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Speaking to him on Tuesday, Ngcozi said he had applied for the traffic officer’s posts for nearly four years now with no positive outcome. He hopes that one day he will be lucky enough to get the opportunity to pursue his dreams to become one of the province’s law enforcers.

“Each time I come across posts from the department or SAPS I always apply. My latest application to the department was between November and December last year. I was surprised when security personnel of the department called and asked me if I was part of the group of people who had been called for interviews at Matsafeni,” he said.

Ngcozi told Lowvelder Express that his dream job is to be a traffic officer. “Like any unemployed youth, I need to obtain employment and make a living for myself and my family. I am currently a queue marshall at the Edgars taxi rank in the morning. However, the pay is not even enough to buy bags of cement to build a proper house for my family,” he said.

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Moeti Musi, spokesperson for the department, said, “I am not aware that Ngcozi had previously applied. Adverts are placed in newspapers and this gives everyone an equal opportunity to apply. We cannot single out an individual. We can encourage him to continue applying every time he sees a traffic officer post. Qualifying applicants are also given an opportunity to present themselves during interviews,” he said.

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Many Facebook users flooded social media calling for Ngcozi’s recruitment. DJ Sdunkero Kunene wrote, “Ngena Ngcozi Yebo Ngena #trafficdeparment vulelani lomfowethu, #whynotNgcoziYebo, #whynotmpumalangaartist #Revolution20.” Sweetpapa SA Mashego said, “#Give Ngcozi Yebo a job at the traffic department. Please support this #ngcoziyebo #1245movement2021 #whynotmpumalangaartists #revolutionary 21.”

Prudence Thumbathi Ngcozi wrote, “He never sits down, but wakes up every morning like anyone going to work. He controls the movement of traffic and helps learners to cross the road. You are doing a great job. I want to appreciate you while you are still alive, we wish you all the best of luck.”

Dumsani Mangroover Masilela said, “The Pienaar Youth Movement is 100 per cent behind Ngcozi Yebo. We will support any programmes behind him. He has been volunteering his services for a long time and deserves to be recognised and empowered.”