The North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison, MEC Desbo Mohono on Wednesday expressed confidence that the road ranger programme activated by her department across 24 villages will contribute significantly towards reducing road crashes caused by stray animals throughout the festive season.
Sixty-seven community members monitored by Road Safety officers are being paid a stipend of R75 per day for their involvement in the provincial initiative which supports the Make Roads Safe-Arrive Alive Festive Campaign. The volunteers were recruited as road rangers with the assistance of traditional authorities and local municipalities to manage the stray animals phenomenon.
Most rural areas in the province are characterised by stray animals that encroach on public roads pose a danger to road users particularly during the night. Most owners are unable to keep their livestock in fenced camps resulting in road fatalities and loss of substance livestock.
In Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, the programme is being implemented along the N18 Mahikeng-Vryburg to Taung road on a 24 hours basis and covers Dryharts, Magogong, Choseng, Maphoitsile, Matolong, Mokgareng, Matlapaneng and Pudumong.
In Bojanala Platinum District, the programme is along Phela – Tlokweng Road and also covers Seshibitswe, Vrede, Madikwe, Rampampa Spoort, Ledig, Makoshong, Mabeskraal, Makweleng, Makapanstad- Mathibestad and Jericho villages.
Disaneng, Rooigrond, Setlagole and Bodibe villages are the four villages covered by the programme in Ngaka Modiri Molema District.
The Provincial department has budgeted R170 000 for the 62 road rangers for a 6:00 pm-11:00 pm daily shift.The budget amount is inclusive of equipment, i. e reflective clothing and the reflective neck-braces for the animals.
Naledi Local Municipality has partnered with the provincial department on the programme andrecruited an additional 5 rangers so as to extend the program to other villages within its jurisdiction.
“We are encouraged by the support that the programme has received from our traditional leaders and the enthusiasm of the volunteers particularly those from Naledi Local Municipality who have also offered their horses for the 24 hours road patrols” says MEC Mohono.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele (Departmental Spokesperson)
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
