The 103 young men and women, some of whom left jobs, halted tertiary studies or were unemployed prior to the 2019/20 metro’s traffic learnership programme, have been left out in the lurch since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, wondering in part if they will continue to receive their stipend despite their contracts lapsing at the end of June, but most importantly asking if they will be absorbed by the financially burdened Mangaung Metro. 

While the department of Police, Roads and Transport have distanced themselves from the saga, stating the programme falls under the municipality, some of the trainees who have asked to remain anonymous believe the solution to the matter lies in that very department. 

Police, Roads and Transport MEC Sam Mashinini will table his department’s budget today. It is unknown if he will address the recruitment of traffic officers in the province in his budget speech.

In early July, Mashinini assured the Mangaung Metro Special Council Sitting that the Mangaung Metro Police Services is still very much on the cards but cautioned that they needed to make some sacrifices to do so. These sacrifices include having to do with their current traffic officers and not employ more to avoid incurring extra remuneration costs until the metro police is well established. Presenting a progress report before the council last week Tuesday, Mashinini revealed that the national police commissioner approved the establishment of the Mangaung Metro Police on 7 January 2020. He, however, explained that the commissioner had previously raised concerns with the rank structure of the metro police in the province, insignia, and financial viability of the municipality. His sentiments became a concern to some of the trainees.

The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) will also table their budget on Wednesday. It is expected that Mangaung’s financial constraints - which are of interest to the trainees - will be addressed during the briefing.

OFM News