No bulletproof vests have been supplied to traffic officers in the Eastern Cape by the provincial Department of Transport for over 10 years.
In fact, the last time the department supplied these vests, was during the 2008/’09 financial year.
This is according to Eastern Cape Transport MEC, Xolile Nqatha, in response to questions posed by Shadow MEC of Roads and Transport, Marshall von Buchenroder.
Nqatha said that some traffic officers have bulletproof vests while others don’t.
When asked how many traffic officers were provided with bulletproof vests in the last three financial years as at the latest specified date for which information is available, Nqatha’s response was “none”.
Referring to the shooting and killing of at least two traffic officers in the province recently, Von Buchenroder said that this begs the question whether their lives could have been spared had they been issued bulletproof vests.
“If we want law and order on our roads, traffic officers must feel confident that they have the necessary protection when dealing with dangerous suspects.
“We want fully motivated officers who are not holding back out of fear because they might be the next victims,” he said.
Looking at traffic officers in Nelson Mandela Bay, since most of the traffic lights in the metro are out of order, several officials are doing duty at strategic robots across the Bay.
In September this year, one of these officials, Sonica Smith, tragically lost her life when she was shot inside her patrol vehicle while sitting in the driver’s seat, completing documents following vehicle checks on the R75 near KwaDwesi.
According to police reports, a group of men pointed a gun at Smith’s colleague who was on the road and disarmed him. When it seemed as if Smith, who was in the vicinity of another colleague, wanted to react to what was happening, she was shot in her chest.
Her firearm was also taken by the group.
When asked whether something was being done at local level to ensure that traffic officers in the metro have bulletproof vests, especially after Smith’s murder, Director of Traffic and Licensing in the metro and now also acting Executive Director of Safety and Security, Warren Prins, said that procurement processes for new uniforms are already in place.
“The process is already in place. This is the general uniform but it is inclusive of protective clothing to assure the safety of our officers,” he said.
Prins added that even before Smith’s unfortunate death, a procedure had already been put in place to ensure that each and every official would receive a bulletproof vest, including admin staff who would usually only go out with a shirt.
“A tender is also out specifically for bulletproof vests,” he said.
Von Buchenroder said that it is essential for all law enforcement officials to have bulletproof vests, especially with the current rise of callous attacks against them.
“As we approach the festive season, our traffic and other law enforcement officials will be called on to do more visible patrols of our streets. These men and women are placing themselves in harm’s way to ensure our safety over the holidays.
“It is completely outrageous that for the past 13 years, traffic officials have had to risk their lives daily without the necessary lifesaving equipment.”
