Rosebank residents, commuters and motorists slowly trickled into Bath Avenue where the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) held its first community outreach project on October 6.

Other City of Johannesburg entities present for the outreach included Johannesburg Roads Agency and emergency management services.

The SAPS licensing vehicle was available to check traffic fines, book licence renewal appointments and book learner driver test appointments. Officers were also showing and explaining to the public how their breathalysers work.

Read more: Civil society leaders gather at Constitution Hill to target South Africa’s alcohol harm

JMPD officer and community outreach organiser Malerato Mkhasibe explained that the outreach was prompted by complaints from Rosebank residents. “We are here with City of Johannesburg stakeholders in order to bring services to the community of Rosebank,” Mkhasibe said. “The residents have been complaining about struggling to get hold of our services as well as reaching our offices when they contact us.”

Mkhasibe added that it was the first outreach project in the community and that they would look into having more projects involving residents in future.

Rosebank Management District operations manager Basil Ngakane highlighted that the Rosebank node was suitable for the outreach project due to the variety of transport in the area.

“We have also extended the invite to the taxi association in the area,” Ngakane said. “This is the first one and we are interested in having another one during the festive season with the same or more stakeholders.”

Follow us on our WhatsApp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!