Every weekday, between mid-morning and early afternoon, the intersection of Kingfisher Drive (Montecasino Boulevard) and Winnie Mandela Drive tells a different story from the usual rush-hour frustration.

With the traffic lights currently out of order for weeks, congestion could easily spiral into gridlock, but, for now, two familiar figures have quietly taken control of the flow.

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Ndumiso Shabala and Siyabonga Femela, deployed as pointsmen through OUTsurance and trained within formal traffic management structures, position themselves at the centre of the intersection, guiding vehicles through the crossing and preventing what would otherwise be a constant standstill.

For many drivers, the presence of the duo has become reassuring.

“You actually feel safer when they’re here,” said one motorist, Thebe Makola, during the afternoon rush on April 29. “Without them, it would just be confusion and tempers flaring.”

Unlike the informal pointsmen, Shabalala said their work is grounded in formal training, which prepared them to handle exactly these kinds of scenarios.

“When we are here, we know exactly what to do. It’s not random, it’s controlled traffic management. We also understand that we are dealing with various kind of people.”

Femela echoes the same sentiment, saying their presence is part of ensuring continuity when infrastructure fails. “When the robots are down for long, it can’t just be left. That’s when we come in to keep things moving safely. We have a team that is working around the clock to tell us which intersections require our attention.”

Many motorists now recognise them instantly, responding with hoots, hand waves, and acknowledgement as they approach the intersection.

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“They know us now. People will hoot, they will wave, it becomes a relationship. Even though it’s work, you start to understand the community flow.”

Shabalala added that the human interaction is part of what defines the job, even in challenging conditions. “Drivers can get impatient, especially when they’re late or frustrated with the route, but, most of the time, once they see someone actively managing the traffic, they calm down.”

Despite the pressure of standing in the middle of busy traffic for hours, Femela said the experience has its own energy. “It’s the vibe here.

You’re outside, you’re interacting with people. Even though it’s long hours, it doesn’t feel like you’re just stuck somewhere doing nothing.”

He also shared how quickly frustration builds among motorists when the traffic lights are down. “People are already rushing, already late, and then they hit this intersection.

That’s where emotions come out, but, at the same time, most people do understand what we’re trying to do.”

For anyone hoping to join their ranks, Shabalala said the pathway is clear: A clean criminal record, a matric certificate, and selection into formal metro training programmes that prepare officers for traffic management duties like these.

After that, it’s simple: Step into the intersection and keep the city moving.

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