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Johannesburg’s Traffic Chaos: City to Hire Pointsmen Amid Broken Lights and Load Shedding

Johannesburg residents are all too familiar with the daily traffic woes caused by malfunctioning traffic lights. Whether it’s during the morning rush hour, while heading to the office or school, or after a long day at work, the city’s roads are often clogged with frustrated drivers due to traffic lights being out of order. The reasons for this are all too common: load shedding, poor maintenance, and even vandalism.
The result? Road rage, accidents, and missed appointments, all of which amplify the frustration for commuters. The question that lingers in everyone’s minds is simple: “Why can’t things just work?”
In an ideal world, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officials would be stationed at major intersections to direct traffic in the absence of working traffic lights. However, this is more the exception than the rule. Pointsmen from insurance company Outsurance, who are often seen assisting with traffic control, are limited in number and can’t cover all intersections. This has left a gap in traffic management that’s increasingly being filled by unemployed individuals who step in to direct traffic. Unfortunately, these “entrepreneurs” rarely inspire confidence, often leading to further confusion and chaos as drivers either ignore their directions or distrust them altogether.
In response to these ongoing traffic problems, the City of Johannesburg has launched a recruitment drive to hire pointsmen who will be tasked with directing traffic at busy intersections across Gauteng. While this is a step in the right direction, it’s clear that this is only a short-term fix. The city’s deteriorating traffic infrastructure demands more permanent solutions.
The cost of repairing Johannesburg’s traffic lights is a staggering R70 million, a price that the city cannot afford at the moment. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) reported that more than 98% of the 1,400 uninterrupted power supply units (UPS) installed at traffic lights in recent years have been stolen, which only exacerbates the problem.
The recruitment drive seeks to hire individuals who have a Grade 10 education or an NQF level 2 qualification, as well as a clean criminal record. These “peace officers” will be employed on short-term contracts, earning R110 per hour, but with no benefits. While this is a temporary solution, it marks an important move in addressing Johannesburg’s mounting traffic challenges.
Though the city’s efforts to recruit more pointsmen will provide some relief for frustrated commuters, the long-term fix lies in investing in the city’s infrastructure, ensuring that traffic lights are properly maintained, and safeguarding the critical equipment from theft and vandalism. Until then, Johannesburg will continue to grapple with the chaos caused by broken traffic lights and unpredictable load shedding.
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