'Smiles are back' as Johannesburg's traffic pointsmen stay - for now

The 186 traffic pointsmen currently helping motorists navigate peak time travel in Johannesburg are excited to keep their jobs‚ with the City of Johannesburg announcing earlier on Thursday that the contract will be extended by six months.

After this‚ a tender process will be finalised to cover the next three years.

Traffic Freeflow‚ which employs the 186 pointsmen‚ said they are extremely pleased. “There is a huge sense of relief and excitement with our staff. Their smiles are back‚” commented Colleen Bekker‚ founder of Traffic Freeflow.

Danie Matthee‚ CEO of the project's anchor sponsor OUTsurance‚ said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the pointsmen project for at least six more months. We remain committed to the project now and into the future. We understand and respect that a tender process will be initiated during this period and we look forward to putting our hat in the ring to continue sponsoring this successful programme.”

The pointsmen project began 13 years ago‚ with the sponsor stating it has to date invested more than R190-million with their current contribution in excess of R20-million per year.

An additional 35 sponsors contribute to the project‚ which sees mobile pointsmen respond via motorcycles to critical hot spots where traffic signals are down or malfunctioning during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Static pointsmen report to the same location daily to assist with traffic congestion at assigned intersections.

Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba said earlier on Thursday that the current contract would be extended for six months‚ "subject to the finalisation of the city’s procurement process for the issuing of a final contract following a competitive tender process".

"This means that‚ in due course‚ a new tender would be awarded to the best suitable PPP (public-private partnership) service provider to assist the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) in traffic management.

"The city has gone to great lengths to ensure that any finalisation of a PPP contract is compliant with the relevant legislation and procurement policies. This legislation requires the city to ensure that this service is subject to a competitive tender process on a regular basis.”

Last week‚ TimesLIVE reported that Traffic Freeflow and OUTsurance had expressed disappointment that their contract would not be renewed come August 31.

The companies expressed displeasure at being informed of the decision not to renew the contract only recently. “We only became aware that the contract would not be extended or put out for a new tender at a rather late stage‚” said Bheki Zondo‚ Traffic Freeflow CEO.

At the time‚ the city said its decision not to renew the contract was as a result of the JMPD’s upgraded functions‚ as well as the appointment of an additional 180 traffic wardens who were to replace the pointsmen.

Mashaba said the city had struggled with the timely management of contracts to ensure a smooth transition between the end of one contract and the commencement of another. “This is something I have instructed the city’s departments to examine and correct‚” the mayor said.