JMPD commits to enhancing visibility at schools

JMPD was quick to address accusations regarding an apparent lack of law enforcement at schools, especially during peak hours.

The Roodepoort Record is pursuing complaints regarding the widespread unhappiness of schools and residents in Roodepoort regarding the behaviour of scholar transport operators.

Also read: Up in arms over scholar transport operators

According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, the JMPD acknowledges concerns raised by school principals regarding the need for increased visible policing, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.

“We understand that the safety of learners and the smooth flow of traffic around schools is paramount.

“We recognise that the absence of consistent law enforcement presence can contribute to non-compliance with traffic regulations by transport operators and other road users, leading to congestion and potential safety hazards.”

Also read: Scholar transport plot thickens

Fihla says the JMPD is committed to addressing these concerns and is actively working on strategies to improve visibility and enforcement at schools.

“The department will review its deployment strategies to ensure a more consistent presence of JMPD officers at schools during peak hours, subject to resource availability and other city-wide priorities.

“We will engage in further collaborative planning with school principals and relevant stakeholders to identify specific problem areas and develop targeted interventions, focusing on traffic management strategies to alleviate congestion and improve road safety around schools, including stricter enforcement of parking and traffic regulations.”

Fihla has also committed to enhancing communication with schools and the community to raise awareness about road safety and to promote responsible behaviour around school zones.

“The JMPD is continuously assessing our resource allocation and operational plans to optimise our service delivery, and we encourage schools to continue to report specific incidents and concerns to the JMPD so that we can effectively address them.”