The Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Transport has improved its road safety measures in the Nelson Mandela metro through the appointment of 24 road rangers to patrol local roads.
The Road Rangers programme is the new initiative of the department, which seeks to reduce the number of road accidents caused by stray animals. More than 200 road rangers have been appointed throughout the province. In the Nelson Mandela metro, the department has identified hotspots (hazardous areas) such as Rocklands, Greenbushes, Seaview, Witteklip and Fishers Corner, and conducted consultative meetings in an effort:
* to introduce the Road Ranger programme and increase job opportunities for the unemployed
* to form partnerships with other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the programme runs smoothly and effectively
* to equip appointed Road rangers with skills
Meetings have been held with livestock owners and the community in an effort to:
* take them through the programme and sign contracts
* allocate them as per their areas or hotspots
* issue protective clothing or attendance registers
A workshop for all rangers was conducted in the district office for all the 24 road rangers. The focus was on the following key topics:
* Health and safety
* Stray animals
* Road ranger concept document
* Bicycle training awareness
* Work allocation per five kilometres
Area of work:
* Rocklands
Hot spots:
* from Rocklands garage
* from Deli farm
* from Sthatheni
* from Rockland’s garage to Uitenhage Road
* from Rockland’s garage to Verdog
Area
* Seaview
Hot spots
* from Seaview guest farm
* from Collinglen
Are
* Witteklip
Hot spots
* from Woodridge
* from United Chix
Area
* Green Bushes
Hot spots
Cape road to the road that leads to:
* John Melles
* Rockland’s Cross
* Rowallan Park
* Mission Road
Area
* Fishes Corner
Hot spot
* old Cape Road
* Draai Fontein
Work schedule:
* 06h00 to 12h00
* 12h00 to 18h00
* 18h00 to 00h00
Road safety programme on stray animal activities:
1. Stray animal roadshow at Uitenhage on 10 December 2009
Farmers were educated on the importance of guarding animals away for roads :1 000 community members with 72 stock owners were reached
40 red flags, 40 T-shirts and 100 key rings were distributed
1.1. Workshop to rangers at boardroom on 11 December 2009
Awareness done to 24 rangers on the importance of road safety regarding animals and safe cycling:
24 safe cycling manuals distributed and 24 red flags distributed
1.2 Monitoring and education to herdsmen on 1 to 4, 7 to 9 and 21 to 23 December 2009 at:
* Port Elizabeth areas
* Rocklands
* Uitenhage
* Despatch
* Grahamstown
* Port Alfred
* Humansdorp
Activities:
* Awareness to herdsmen
* 40 red flags distributed
* Education dome to 37 herdsmen
* 150 brochures distributed
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 442 2388
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
8 February 2010
