Cops are footloose in Musina
2012-06-10 17:15
Sipho Masondo, City Press
Johannesburg - Not even Usain Bolt can run fast enough to catch a speeding car – but in Limpopo’s Musina Municipality, that’s exactly what traffic officers are expected to do every day.
The men and women in uniform are not training for the Olympics or trying to keep fit; they simply don’t have cars.
Last week, City Press found six traffic officers sitting under a tree in downtown Musina, taking turns to stop cars and running after them if drivers didn’t stop.
One officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Chief, these guys [motorists] now know that we don’t have cars and they just don’t stop.
“We run after them, hoping that they will get caught in traffic and we will catch up with them. I’m looking for another job. I can’t work like this.
“This is a joke. We haven’t had cars in more than three months. We have about four cars, but they are all in for repairs.
“It sounds like a joke and you are laughing, but this is serious. How do we respond to accidents without cars?
Sad story
“Accidents happen often and we can’t help. It is a sad story. I’m told we will only get cars in the new financial year.”
Municipal spokesperson Wilson Dzebo said three of Musina’s traffic cars had broken down and the other had been involved in an accident.
“They now have to patrol on foot as we have a serious shortage of cars. Patrolling is part of their duties anyway. We will buy four new cars in the beginning of the new financial year next month.”
He said the municipality had leased three cars to ease the pressure.
But the anonymous officer told City Press she had not seen any cars.
“Maybe they did lease cars, but I haven’t seen any.”
The men and women in uniform are not training for the Olympics or trying to keep fit; they simply don’t have cars.
Last week, City Press found six traffic officers sitting under a tree in downtown Musina, taking turns to stop cars and running after them if drivers didn’t stop.
One officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “Chief, these guys [motorists] now know that we don’t have cars and they just don’t stop.
“We run after them, hoping that they will get caught in traffic and we will catch up with them. I’m looking for another job. I can’t work like this.
“This is a joke. We haven’t had cars in more than three months. We have about four cars, but they are all in for repairs.
“It sounds like a joke and you are laughing, but this is serious. How do we respond to accidents without cars?
Sad story
“Accidents happen often and we can’t help. It is a sad story. I’m told we will only get cars in the new financial year.”
Municipal spokesperson Wilson Dzebo said three of Musina’s traffic cars had broken down and the other had been involved in an accident.
“They now have to patrol on foot as we have a serious shortage of cars. Patrolling is part of their duties anyway. We will buy four new cars in the beginning of the new financial year next month.”
He said the municipality had leased three cars to ease the pressure.
But the anonymous officer told City Press she had not seen any cars.
“Maybe they did lease cars, but I haven’t seen any.”
