Road safety and a smile
Mallane Mamaregane, makes early morning traffic a lot more bearable with her friendly smile and eager assistance.
POLOKWANE – Early morning traffic can be a nightmare, especially when you’re in a hurry, late for work and still have to drop off the children.
Mallane Mamaregane, however, makes morning traffic a lot more bearable with her friendly smile and eager assistance.
Mallane is the point duty officer on duty every morning and every afternoon in Bendor Drive opposite Oosskool, who makes sure learners cross the street safely to and from school.
“My work is a lot of fun, I really enjoy it. The drivers, mostly parents, are usually friendly.
“Sometimes the drivers are on their cellphones and are distracted. That is not nice for me. I don’t like it if they don’t pay attention, it is dangerous.”
She was appointed point duty officer in October last year. Since then she has grown to love the learners who she helps cross the road everyday.
“Some of the parents actually notice what I do even when I feel no one sees.
One of the parents once brought me a bouquet of flowers.
When I asked her why she said, it was just to show appreciation. I really felt appreciated then.
“On Valentine’s Day I received sweets and on my birthday I actually received some presents.
“I did not even know they knew when my birthday was.”
Mallane says that at first she was afraid of the cars but with time she developed more confidence.
She says the morning shift is better as everyone is still friendly and fresh.
“In the afternoon most people are in a bad mood because of their stressful day.”
Mallane is a single mother with one child.
She grew up in Polokwane and studied small business management trough Boston College. Currently she’s studying project management through Unisa.
In her free time she likes to do window shopping or read. Sometimes when she is walking through a mall, a child greets her. It warms her heart to know she is important to someone, Mallane says.
“My advice to others who want to be a point duty officer is to be brave, and committed to do it.
You can’t afford to be late.
You have to be on time and observant.”
