Just last month, the traffic cops blocked the municipal offices - owing to labour demands against their employer.
Early on Friday morning, traffic officers in Klerksdorp were left stranded after the Chief of Traffic, Maupi Abia Nkgapele, instructed Superintendent Mike Peterson in the City to take all the keys of eight traffic vehicles from the officers.
This comes after Anton Marais, Acting Director from the Department of Public Safety in the Municipality issued a letter on Thursday, August 10, accusing the officials of needing to be faster and rendering their responsible duties as law enforcement officers daily.
The affected traffic officials said they were on a go-slow because nothing had changed from all the promises made by the municipality last month when they were on strike by closing off all the entrances to the traffic offices.
Their cries included a need for proper tools of the trade, including uniforms. They also complained that the last time they received uniforms, was in 2019.
While speaking to Mo-Media, the affected traffic officers said they are now left without vehicles and are forced to make means to get private transport to take them home and to work.
"We have been reporting for duty every day, and now the council has decided to take back their vehicles, so we will see what will happen from here going forward. But for now, we will arrange private transport to take us home.
"We are on a go-slow because of a lack of proper tools of the trade, and now that they have taken another tool of the trade from us, how must we proceed with our job now that they have taken the vehicles?
"What is the way forward? Since July 19, when we were on strike, no one cared for us from top management. Look at my pants now from a 2019 uniform. This is a disgrace", said the spokesperson of the traffic officers.
The Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) in Matlosana, Kamohelo Mokgothu, said the union condemns the decision taken by traffic management in Matlosana to take traffic vehicles away from the traffic officers.
"We strongly condemn the attitude of traffic management in addressing the plight of the workers who have been patient for over four years - waiting for proper tools to perform their duties. Our members are neither on strike nor on go-slow; they are exercising their right not to work without tools of trade, which is a compliance issue.
"Taking away council vehicles from the workers means the employer is telling them not to work, and remember, this matter is an occupational health and safety issue that is non-negotiable; it's pure compliance. We will report this matter to the Department of Labour for contravention notice, " he said.
The municipality did not respond to questions sent to them at the time of printing.
