The Free State Traffic Department brought the Lengau testing and traffic centre in Bloemfontein to a standstill in a protest over a lack of uniforms and unpaid overtime.

Workers claim the Lengau centre was closed from 09:00 yesterday. The protest later moved to the OR Tambo House and St Andrews Street was closed off by multiple traffic vehicles.

According to one of the traffic officers, Mongesi Bonasi, the reason for the protest is because they have been complaining and fighting with the department for basic needs such as uniforms and compensation for overtime worked.

“We have been complaining since last year. Some of us have been waiting for uniform since we have graduated from the training college.”

Another traffic officer, Joseph Mothosola, says they have handed over a memorandum to the Premier’s Office and that they hope to get a response from them soon.

“If we do not get a response from her office in 14 days, we will intensify our protest,” he says.

Department of Police, Roads and Transport’s communication director, Hillary Mophethe, denies that the test and licencing centre was closed and services disrupted. She says Lengau will be fully operational today.

According to Mophethe, the delay in payments for overtime is due to non-provision of Portfolio Of Evidence (POE) as required by policy.

“The department requested POE from officials as per policy for the processing of these claims. As soon as POE is received, these claims will be paid,” she says.

On the issue of uniform Mophethe says that the Department started the procurement of uniform last year for lower level (Senior Provincial Inspectors and Provincial Inspectors) as the first phase which was issued out to them in December 2021.

The second phase of procurement is set to commence today as a tender will be advertised for further procurement of uniform for traffic officers.