Drastic measures were taken by the City’s traffic department in an enforcement crackdown on taxis in Brackenfell and Kraaifontein, but much more manpower is needed to curb reckless driving on local roads.
According to a traffic report tabled to Subcouncil 2 on Wednesday 5 197 fines were issued to taxi drivers and more than 30 taxis impounded during this time; additionally 63 warrants were executed.
The report states that a total of 1 259 fines were issued to taxi drivers for driver fitness, 739 for vehicle fitness, 757 for moving violations and 2 178 for public transport offences.
A representative of the traffic department told TygerBurger that enforcement operations take place twice weekly on Old Paarl, Bottelary and Botfontein roads.
In Ward 8 of Brackenfell that includes Protea Heights and Sonkring, 1 187 fines were issued and in Ward 102 that includes Vredekloof, Brackenfell CBD, Kleinbron and Gategate a further 1 251.
In Ward 6 that covers Botfontein, 53 fines were issued and in Ward 7 that covers Northpine and the Everite and Brackenfell industrial areas 297.
The highest number of 1 569 were recorded in Wards 101 and 111 of Bloekombos, Wallacedene, Peerless Park, Eikendal and Belmont Park.
Only eight traffic cops
Subcouncil chair and Brackenfell ward councillor Marian Nieuwoudt commented that while traffic enforcement has improved in the area with higher visibility, more traffic officers are urgently needed as has been perpetually requested by the subcouncil over the years.
“The area covered by the traffic district in both Subcouncils 2 and 7 has seen big development and densification over recent years.
“In addition, five industrial areas opened and learner numbers at schools have increased.
“Traffic has exponentially increased and taxis do whatever they like. At subcouncil level we will have to find a way to bring this message home to the administration,” she says.
There is currently only eight traffic officers to cover the entire Brackenfell, Kraaifontein and Durbanville, not nearly enough says Nieuwoudt to ensure law and order on our roads.
Grant Twigg, Mayco member for urban waste management, said the traffic department’s efforts are noted.
“Traffic officers play a big role on our roads and I think the community has noticed, but our problems are long not solved,” he said.
Reckless taxi drivers
Despite enforcement efforts at hotspots among many the Brighton Road Bridge in Kraaifontein, motorists still feel entrapped by reckless taxi drivers, some choosing not to leave their residences during peak hour traffic or taking longer alternative routes.
Rhynhardt Bresler, member of the City’s safety and security portfolio, agrees that there is simply not enough officers to handle all the traffic complaints.
“The reality is that the City is growing very fast and it is not possible for traffic officers to immediately react to all the community’s needs.”
According to Bresler the training course for traffic officers is set to change from one to three years.
“Not only will this put more pressure on tax payers but it will also take longer to deploy more officers. My biggest wish is to have more traffic officers on our roads, but the question is when will it ever be enough?”
TygerBurger posed several questions to the City of Cape Town, but had not received a response by deadline.
