Traffic too understaffed for school safety
The municipality confirmed that the traffic department is so understaffed that there are too few to address a great need for law enforcement at schools.
NELSPRUIT – The municipality confirmed last week that the traffic department is understaffed. So much so, that there are too few to address what Mbombela called a great need for law enforcement at all schools.
“There is a great need for our traffic officials to do law enforcement at all our schools, especially at the problematic areas,” said Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for the municipality. “This unit (traffic) is currently too under-staffed to meet all these demands throughout Mbombela but the municipality will continue to form partnerships with provincial law enforcement departments to curb this behaviour.”
The safety in particular around Lowveld High School, Hoërskool Bergvlam, Laerskool Laeveld and Klipspringer are of concern. Particular issues that were recently raised at an education committee meeting were traffic and crime problems surrounding the schools.
According to the minutes of the meeting, these schools are full, resulting in a situation where on a daily basis close to 3 000 children arrive in and depart from an area less than a square kilometre big. A huge concern are the behaviour of some of the drivers.
Allegedly, some drivers jump red lights at the Figtree and Geelhout intersection, some park in the middle of the road to drop children off, some cut in front of other drivers and others perform illegal turns. There have been numerous traffic incidents involving children and the committee believes that a fatal accident is very likely.
Ngala conceded that the concerns raised are all valid and genuine. “We have witnessed an increase in total disregard for traffic rules and this attitude can only be changed with very strict law enforcement and serious fines,” he said.
He pointed out that there are speed humps in front of Bergvlam, Laeveld and Lowveld High. He said speed bumps cannot be erected on Figtree Street in front of Lowveld High due to the fact that there are traffic lights.
Regarding concerns about the children’s safety from muggings and sexual victimisation on their way to and from school, Col Leonard Hlathi, spokesman for the provincial police, explained that they are visible. “We cannot specifically post static members to schools to guard them. We are visible and patrol around town and townships and this includes schools,” he said.
Aside from routine visits to schools by the SAPS to talk to children about safety, Hlathi also appealed to the community to work with the police to catch drug dealers. “Usually we get the runners who deal to children,” he said. “What we need is more information to get to those who deal drugs in bulk. We want the community to work with us to curb this problem and come forward with information.”
He also warned that outlets selling liquor to under aged children were breaking the law and those driving under the influence should rethink their actions. “The provincial police commissioner, Lt Gen Thulani Ntobela emphasises in each management meeting that police must leave no stone unturned in bringing those who drive under the influence to book.”
