What started as a small Vryheid WhatsApp group has grown into what Marlize Harmse describes as a national platform helping motorists stay informed when things go wrong on the road.

At the centre of Road Angels SA is Marlize, who celebrates five years of keeping motorists informed about crashes, traffic disruptions, breakdowns and other emergencies.

“It’s five years of keeping road users informed of any disruptions or danger on their routes. Five years of being their first call in distress when they need emergency assistance,” Marlize said. “Through traffic, crashes, breakdowns and late-night dispatches – we’ve been there. Because when you’re on the road, you shouldn’t ever feel alone.”

When she started Road Angels, Marlize never expected it to grow beyond Vryheid and the surrounding areas.

“There was a big need for motorists to know what’s happening on their routes,” she said.

Today, the volume of information coming through is enormous. Marlize receives between 15 000 and 18 000 WhatsApp messages a day. The massive volume has even taken its toll on her phones. “I had to use various brands of seven phones in five years until I had the best phone that could keep up and process what I needed it to,” she said.

What happens behind the updates

For motorists, a Road Angels update may be just a few lines on a screen. Behind that update is often a much more complicated process. “Every incident has its own protocol to follow,” Marlize said, explaining that she needs to ensure the correct emergency services are dispatched and notified.

Once an incident is over, her work continues with reports sent to relevant stakeholders, along with administrative duties that need to remain up to date.

Marlize said she is also acting as the area’s CCC, a role that comes with additional administrative responsibilities. Then there are the calls from people in distress. “The chaos when a call comes in. The plea for help of a member crying in your ears, asking you to save her family,” she said.

The time spent working behind the scenes is very different from what motorists see in the updates. Her work often begins before an incident is reported, with calls to SAPS stations in areas where protest action is prone to occur so that she can keep motorists informed.

Even family events are not completely free from Road Angels. Marlize said she is often close to a phone charger or Wi-Fi, while her family and friends have learned to accept the demands of her work.

One incident that stayed with her

Of the many incidents she has dealt with, one crash on the R33 near Kambula remains particularly difficult to forget. A young child was the only survivor. “I was more on the phone tracking down family members than I was dispatching,” Marlize recalled. “You will always wonder how the child is doing.”

Standing her ground

Marlize said one of her proudest moments has been standing her ground when, in her experience, larger institutions, political parties and businesses questioned whether she was making a difference.

She also said there were occasions when she felt others took credit for work she had done. Road Angels is self-funded, which has also brought financial challenges.

But for Marlize, knowing that someone received help when they needed it makes the effort worthwhile. “Every call makes me proud. Members got helped and could start their healing journey,” she said. “When I sit back and see where I am now, I’m proud.”

The community remains an important part of Road Angels, with members providing information from the roads and ground. “They are, after all, the eyes and ears on the roads and ground,” she said. “I firmly believe a tight-knit community is a strong community.” She credits her family and the first responders she works closely with for keeping her going on difficult days.

Looking ahead

Marlize’s plans do not stop at five years. Her goal is to establish a Road Angels call centre where she can make a difference in the lives of daily commuters and be there for road users when they need assistance, day or night.

From a small Vryheid WhatsApp group to a platform serving motorists beyond the local community, the journey has been far bigger than she ever expected.

Her reason for continuing, however, remains simple.

“I might not save the world, but I can help save you.”

The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.