uMhlathuze Exco meeting extracts

Driver behaviour under scrutiny

Traffic concerns – including red light and stop sign jumping – were highlighted.

Added to that was the problem of cable thefts that put traffic lights out of action, also a costly financial issue for the municipality.

The matter was debated at length, with various suggestions as to how the city’s roads can be made safer.

One positive coming out of the debate was that a tender has been issued for the provision of cameras for use at various intersections, which will both assist in catching offenders who speed through red traffic lights as well as being valuable in crime-related matters.

The provision of more speed humps, strategically placed in line with the actual stop signs, was also mooted, as were more small traffic circles at intersections.

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‘I am personally more comfortable with camera law enforcement, but we must investigate all options,’ said Mayor Mdu Mhlongo.

‘The problem with speed humps is that they delay emergency vehicle response times in cases of fires and accidents.

‘The real solution is improvement in driver behaviour – and this is only going to happen when laws and by-laws are strictly enforced.’

The city will be installing solar panels at some intersection as they are less vulnerable to theft than electric cables.

The mayor expressed concern that insufficient security measures led to cable thefts.

Absenteeism on the agenda

It may have been Valentine’s Day, but absence certainly did not make the mayor’s heart grow fonder.

An electrical item dealing with substation inspections noted that check-up targets were not achieved because ‘most of the staff were on sick leave’.

In one instance, the ‘target was lowered’ so that the target could be met.

Absenteeism and sick leave were again highlighted in the quarterly report on the Employee Assistance Programme.

Mayor Mhlongo called for an investigation into the level of staff on sick leave, requesting the Corporate and Community Services departments to bring together the numbers.

The matter was further linked to an item on Health and Safety, where the number of disabling injuries, municipal vehicles involved in accidents, and insurance claims were discussed.

Conceding that substance abuse could be linked to both accidents and absenteeism, Exco was informed the municipality has purchased six breathalysers and trained staff in their proper use.

As from March, municipal employees can expect to undergo random alcohol testing.

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