
South Africa’s traffic officers are to
become more skilled now that the Road
Traffic Management Corporation has put
minimum training standards in place.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
• Ashref Ismail
Road Traffic Management Corporation
+27 71 680 3448
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The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has launched a new minimum standard of training for all traffic officers. The corporation is responsible for improving overall compliance to traffic legislation and enhancing road safety in South Africa.
Part of its function is also to professionalise and standardise traffic law enforcement and its training across the provincial and local spheres of government.
The first 231 graduates successfully completed the year-long course at the end of 2011.
“The new basic traffic officer training is registered with the South African Qualifications Authority and the qualification ID 62289: FETC: Road Traffic Law Enforcement is now the minimum standard for the training of traffic officers,” confirms RTMC spokesperson Ashref Ismail.
Accordingly, all traffic training colleges in South Africa must now comply with this minimum standard, which for the first time introduces a strong hands-on focus during the training.
“The training now covers both classroom and workplace learning, which was not the case in the past,” says Ismail. “The majority of the training was theoretical training with very little and in some cases no practical training or experience.”
Previously, colleges awarded diplomas based on the outcome of the final theoretical examination. Once out in the field, these officers were sometimes faced with challenging situations relating to interpretations of the law and communicating with the public.
“Students now become more proactive, education and training is integrated and much emphasis is placed on knowledge, skills and values,” Ismail says.
“Critical thinking, reasoning, reflection and action are encouraged throughout the learning programme because the competencies of the students are continuously being assessed.”
The trainee also has to compile a portfolio of evidence on their prowess in core competencies. The portfolio is assessed and moderated as part of the qualification.
RTMC is in discussion with various tertiary institutions, in the hope that students can obtain credits if they wish to study further and build on this qualification.
Thirteen accredited colleges countrywide
There are only 13 training colleges authorised by transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele to offer this course in the country – the list follows at the end of the article.
Ismail says it is crucial that individuals realise that only these accredited colleges offer a legitimate qualification, as a number of bogus training institutions are in operation.
“Individuals wishing to become a traffic officer can only be trained at these colleges.”
The RTMC is currently in close contact with the Safety and Security Educational and Training Sector to get an exact idea of how many of these fake colleges are in operation, he adds.
In the meantime, persons with knowledge of such colleges can contact Paulus Plaatjies at the RTMC on +27 12 999 5296, who will take the matter further.
The RTMC published a policy for traffic training centres in the May 2011 edition of the Government Gazette, setting out the requirements in terms of officer training.
The entry requirements for candidates who wish to enrol for the qualification are also laid out in the policy document and are as follows:
- Minimum educational qualification of matric or grade 12 or equivalent
- Code B driving licence (manual transmission)
- The applicant must be employed by a provincial or local authority
- No criminal record
- Medical certificate as proof that the person may do strenuous exercise
- Applicant shall not be older than 35 years of age.
Accredited training colleges
College name: | City/Province: | Number: |
Limpopo Traffic Training College | Polokwane – Limpopo | (015) 967 0467 |
Boekenhoutkloof Traffic Training College | Pretoria – Gauteng | (012) 372 8000 |
KZN Traffic Training College | Pietermaritzburg – KZN | (033) 394 0202 |
Lengau Traffic Training College | Bloemfontein – Free State | (051) 409 0444 |
Mangaung Traffic Training College | Bloemfontein – Free Sta | (051) 412 8100 |
Gene Louw Traffic Training College | Cape Town – Western Cape | (021) 983 1501 |
Durban Metro Police Department Academy | Durban – KZN | (031) 701 0462 |
Johannesburg Metro Police Department Academy | Johannesburg – Gauteng | (011) 429 5010 |
Tshwane Metro Police Department Academy | Pretoria – Gauteng | (012) 358 0005 |
Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Academy | Springs – Gauteng | (011) 812 8700 |
Port Elizabeth Traffic Training College | Port Elizabeth – Eastern Cape | (041) 390 4501 |
Matjhabeng Traffic Training College | Welkom – Free State | (051) 876 2224 |
Cape Town Metro Police Department Academy | Cape Town – Western Cape | (021) 447 2366 |