MBOMBELA – Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has made a call to provincial traffic officers to properly manage their finances and live within their means.

According to him, it is believed that most traffic officers end up involved in corrupt activities because they want to live fancy lives that they cannot afford.

The MEC was speaking during a meeting with all traffic officers employed by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government held at Mbombela Stadium yesterday.

The purpose of the meeting was to address challenges faced by traffic officers with the aim of improving working conditions to promote safety and a corruption free environment. These meetings are held regularly where officers get a chance to voice their frustrations that hinder performance at their various cost centres.

During the meeting, MEC Shongwe made a call to the management of the department to organise a financial management workshop for the traffic officers. He added that management must practice an open door policy so that traffic officers can open up when they experience personal problems.

“As management, we must go deep to determine exactly what leads our officer to be involved in corruption. Corruption by government officials does not only affect the individuals who commit the crime but it also dent the image of the department. That is why we need to go deep into these issues.

“As much as we have limited resources in the department, we must ensure that traffic officers get the same benefits as managers as they are the foot soldiers of the department,” said Shongwe.

The meeting took place few days after more than ten officers were arrested for corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

The MEC further encouraged discipline and commitment among traffic officers and advised them to conduct themselves in a respectable manner towards the community.

“As peace officers, you are expected to be an example to the communities you live in. Discipline must be portrayed at all times whether in uniform or not,” The MEC added.

At the same meeting, Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) Provincial Chairperson, Mr Life Monini said that the Easter performance reports is evident that traffic officers are dedicated to their work, however; there was still more to be done in order to fight corruption.

“As law enforcement members, we are the first line of defence in the country therefore we cannot be involved in corruption. Corruption kills the economy of the country because investors cannot put their monies in a corrupt environment.

“We must not join the force because of wrong reasons as when you get arrested, you will regret for the rest of your life. Some members end up even committing suicide because of the wrong decisions we take. Corruption does not pay,” Monini said.

According to him, the high cost of medical health care and housing was one of the problems that law enforcement officers were experiencing. He added that the department needed to review promotion policies to ensure that officers who served for many years in one position are catered for.

He added that the department must ensure that the Anti- Corruption Strategy is known by each and every officer because it is them who have to implement it in order to prevent corruption. He also advised the department to rotate officers especially those in Weighbridges and Vehicle Testing Centres to prevent corruption from taking place.