The City of Johannesburg’s mayoral committee recently passed a resolution to boost Metro police with 180 more traffic wardens to help sustain safety in a city that grows by around 3 000 new residents per month.

Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba said this is part of Diphetogo, the City’s multi-party government’s initiative to improve the lives of our people by allocating a bigger share of funds only to meaningful priority projects.

“Public safety is essential in maintaining stable economic growth and attracting investment to the City, which is why JMPD has been spearheading the restoration of law and order across the City,” he said.

The wardens will come from the former Extended Public Works Programme and were previously trained to perform traffic pointsman duties.

Joburg’s public safety and law enforcement initiatives have made headlines in recent times, with Operation Buya Mthetho, a multi-disciplinary operation aimed at restoring law and order, launching earlier this year. This operation has resulted in more than 500 un-roadworthy and illegal minibus taxis being impounded.

The Metro police’s K9 Narcotics and Tactical Unit has affected 1 193 arrests, recovered 123 illegal firearms, 136 kilograms of drugs and over 1 000 hijacked vehicles, Mashaba said.

“The Department of Public Safety identified the need to capacitate traffic wardens with additional powers in order to allow them to perform at optimum level.”

These powers, with the help of Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi, will now include stopping vehicles, regulating and controlling traffic, and requesting identification details if a warden suspects a person of an offence.

The recruitment process for the 180 wardens will start soon and the beneficiaries will be contacted, the mayor said.

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