Randfontein traffic officers have ditched their duties for the day to embark on a strike action throughout the Main Reef Road today (21 November).
This comes after submitting a memorandum of demands regarding their working conditions to the Randfontein Local Municipality Acting Municipal Manager Mpho Mogale, who did not revert back in due course as promised.
What this means is that, there are no traffic officers who can attend to accident scenes.
According to an officer who does not wish to be named, the strike comes as a result of management not wanting to address their grievances.
“We have complained about the shortage of the necessary tools of trade and everything in between to the Traffic Department Director Ronnie Molao.
“He knows that we don’t have adequate resources to carry out our duties.
“We also have a problem with promotional policies and the permanent employment of traffic officers who are reservists.
“To date, there has been no response from neither him or Mogale with regards to a way forward and this places us in a position where we cannot do anything but take to the streets,” says the officer.
He adds that 75 per cent of them are without firearms and those with firearms cannot even use them.
“We are currently placing our lives at risk especially when we respond to violent protest actions.
“Some of us don’t have firearms and those who do can’t even operate them.
“We do not even have bullet proof vests to protect ourselves,” says the officer.
He adds that instead of addressing their problems, Molao confiscated their car keys this morning, leaving them to operate on foot.
The Herald has contacted Randfontein Traffic Chief Kenny Mampondo who says that he would rather not comment at this stage.
“I will have to speak with the Director first,” says Mampondo.
