Young people serving as Sasol traffic marshals in the Govan Mbeki Municipality have received additional training to become peace officers as part of an initiative aimed at equipping them with meaningful skills while improving road safety.

According to Rethabile Ndjibu, Sasol Head of Community Relations and Social Investment, the Sasol traffic marshals programme was initially established in 2015.

The programme was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic before being relaunched in 2023.

Ndjibu said the marshals received training on legislative compliance, including laws governing arrest procedures, issuing written notices, giving evidence in court and enhanced traffic-control duties.

“Traffic marshals play a vital role in traffic management within the municipality.

Their core duties involve directing traffic at busy road intersections during peak traffic periods to ease congestion and prevent potential accidents,” said Ndjibu.

There are currently 38 traffic marshals deployed across Secunda, eMbalenhle, Kinross, Bethal, Trichardt, Leandra and Evander.

Ndjibu said the upskilling initiative comes at a strategic time, as Secunda experiences increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic during Sasol’s maintenance shutdown, which started on September 1.

“The new skills will enhance the capabilities of Traffic Marshals and better position them to support traffic operations and contribute to the safer movement of people and vehicles during the shutdown,” she said.

Ndjibu said following the training, the marshals will participate in practical activities, including visits to courts to observe criminal and civil proceedings and gain practical experience in the effective use of written notices.

According to Ndjibu, the programme not only strengthens traffic-management capacity within the municipality but also provides participating young people with valuable skills that could improve their employability and contribute to community development.

She said the programme has already produced positive outcomes since its establishment, with some recruits receiving formal training from the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison and subsequently qualifying as traffic officers.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility, and the inroads made by the traffic marshals programme demonstrate Sasol’s ongoing commitment to being a catalyst for positive change in local communities,” said Ndjibu.

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