MEC Nkosi-Malobane abandons Heidelberg Junior Traffic Training Centre

by Michele Clarke MPL – DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety

It is a disgrace that the Gauteng Department of Community Safety has abandoned the Junior Traffic Training Centre in Heidelberg which has been dysfunctional for almost five years now.

During the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) oversight inspection, we were shocked to discover that the centre is a white elephant.

This facility has been abandoned and it is evident that there has been no maintenance or upkeep over this 5 year period.

The traffic road signs are covered with weeds.

The classrooms are locked but are still equipped with desks and chairs.

Training manuals, road traffic signs and training uniforms are gathering dust in the storerooms.

The wall fencing is broken; the electric motor of the main gate, other electric boxes and the water fountain pumps have been stripped and stolen.

Photo …..here….here……here and here

The DA is concerned that this centre might be further vandalized and the remaining resources stolen as the facility is not being guarded.

It is shameful that this much needed facility that is meant to educate young children about road safety is standing empty and unused.

Considering the fact that pedestrian fatalities are on the rise in this province, this centre could serve a good purpose in educating children at a young age about pedestrian safety to save lives.

This raises serious concerns about the funds allocated to the Traffic Management Unit and its sub-programme of promoting road safety.

We will table questions to the Gauteng Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi- Malobane in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, to determine why the centre has been abandoned, when it will be operational, how much money has been allocated for the running of the centre and on what its allocated budget has been spent.  The DA will also ask who owns the centre building and how much is owed in terms of utility bills.

By failing to ensure that this facility is operational the ANC-led Gauteng is failing on its mandate to educate our people about road safety.