In times of need

With the ongoing blackouts, there are always dozens of traffic lights out, and this causes incredible traffic back up's, / jams, etc. The normal response, for the traffic officers world wide would be to man the most critical of intersections, and to try to get the traffic to flow. You'd think!

Not in good old Johannesburg, Oh No!!! Here, traffic jams are boom time for our traffic law enforcement officers! They man their speed trapping equipment, and try and catch you speeding - this when the average speed is between 3 and 5 km/h!!! Or, as was the case this morning on my route to work, they stand next to road, or on the island (or both) and pull you over for a) Not wearing your seatbelt, b) talking on your cellphone without a hand free kit.....! To make it worse this morning, it was the SAPS (South African Police Services) that were doing the dirty deed!!! You would think they would be out there trying to catch the smash and grab guys, or those bastards who rape and murder and steal (just because they are hungry) or some other heinous criminal!

Anyway, on Talk Radio 702, there were a lot of calls coming in from irate drivers complaining of similar situation. The presenter asked for listeners to take photos and send them in. Every time this issue comes up, and they discuss it with the Spokesman for the GJMC Metro police, he denies it. So, I took these photos, and will be sending this blog, along with the pics, to the radio station.

This occured on 14th Avenue, traveling from Roodepoort towards Cresta, just past the entrance to the MTN Head Offices. The traffic was backed up almost to Ontdekkers, and if anyone was on their cellphone it would have been to call the office after taking over 30 minutes to travel about 1200m!













SAPS member on his haunches next to vehicle he had pulled off.
















SAPS member can be seen on the island, with his back to the camera!

Salagatle!