Respect scholar patrollers – Traffic Department

Mogale City traffic says it will fine and charge motorists who disobey the instructions of a scholar patroler.

September 11, 2016

Portia Mokowe 2 minutes read

Scholar Patroller, Tshidi Kolwane says that she feels as if she does not have any authority because motorists do not respect her.

Mogale City Traffic Department is concerned about the community’s attitude towards scholar patrollers.

Every morning 64 scholar patrols stationed in various areas around Mogale City stand outside or near schools helping pupils cross the road safely. They risk their lives on our roads but they are struggling to do their job well because of how motorists treat them. Some challenges they face are motorists who refuse to stop at a marked pedestrian crossing, and some who generally disobey instructions given by the scholar patroller.

“Mogale Traffic is doing its best by employing scholar traffic officials at every school, but the very community they serve disrespects them. I think the spirit of ubuntu must rise and we need to respect these people because they keep our children safe at busy intersections,” said Papi Motaung, Mogale City Traffic Department spokesperson.

Brenda Nkosi, a scholar patroller who was sworn at and almost assaulted by a motorist, said she fears for her life at times and relies on another community member, Daniel Rathebe, to help her. “Parents no longer accompany their children to school to help them cross the road and as a result it’s my responsibility to face off with all these motorists. They do not indicate before turning, they do not stop at a stop sign and when I try to reprimand them they swear at me,” Brenda told the News. Daniel protects her and sometimes enforces the rules at her intersection. “Drivers often abuse and threaten to assault her, but since I work near this intersection, I stand outside and ensure that no harm comes to her,” said Daniel.

At some intersections, traffic officers have to assist scholar patrollers because motorists do not respect the scholar patroller, as is the case with traffic officer Ruth Tlhomelang who works with scholar patroller Theodolfia Khandanisa at the three-way stop on the R41. “This intersection is busy but motorists refuse to stop and adhere to the rules of a three-way stop. High school pupils also do not want to be assisted by a scholar patroller, so a lot of times it gets challenging,” Ruth told the News.

Motaung warned motorists that action will be taken against them should they disobey the rules a scholar patroller needs to enforce. “Scholar patrollers have notebooks in which they write the number plates of vehicles of which the drivers do not cooperate with them. The vehicle owner is tracked down and warned, charged or fined as necessary. Mogale Traffic will take action against anyone who disobeys the rules of the road,” Papi told the News.