POPCRU calls for better working conditions, support for traffic officers

CAPE TOWN - The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has issued an urgent call for better working conditions and support for traffic officers.

The union's concerns come after statistics released on Thursday showed a 3% increase in road deaths since the start of December.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy confirmed that 24-hour traffic policing and intensified law enforcement in high-risk route zones would now be implemented to curb road accident deaths.

POPCRU president, Thulani Ngwenya, said while these measures would save lives, they come at a cost to the well-being of traffic officers.

"As POPCRU we are not going to agree, we're calling upon all the stakeholders, the minister of traffic and all the departments... Let's nationalise traffic, let's employ more traffic officials, let's give them more equipment, let's give them all the resources."     

Ngwenya said the nationalisation of traffic police would create an integrated line of command for improved oversight and efficiency.

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