When Vuyo Siphokazi Ngumbela received a call that she was one of 150 young people that made the cut to be trained as a traffic officer, top in her mind was acing every exam and excelling at all the training.
The Sisanda Hadi bursary scheme to train 150 young people to become traffic officers, was launched in 2024 by transport MEC Xolile Nqatha to honour Hadi, a traffic officer who tragically lost her life while on duty in February that year.
True to her intentions, Ngumbela, from Qonce, ranked the top achiever in her class.
The 32-year-old now works as a provincial inspector stationed at the Wilsonia provincial traffic department. Ngumbela, who had to drop out of Nelson Mandela University where she was studying quantity surveying because of finances, is one of the beneficiaries of the programme offered by the department of transport and community safety.
She worked for a project management firm until she got the bursary last year.
It was one of the best decisions I made. I’m doing something I believe is making a difference and I’m enjoying it
“It was one of the best decisions I made. I’m doing something I believe is making a difference and I’m enjoying it.
“The unemployment rate in the country is high and one of the biggest benefits of the programme is getting employed.
“It’s not just about writing fines, it’s about protecting the public and making a difference,” Ngumbela said.
She recalls the training period as difficult. She started working as an inspector in January.
“I told myself that I’m here to pass and focusing was key. The college taught us to do the right thing and be disciplined and work as a collective. I believe in doing the best in everything,” she said.
She had never imagined herself as a traffic officer. As a little girl she envisaged herself as a medical doctor. Today, ensuring people abide by the rules of the road and ensuring their safety, is something Ngumbela describes as a blessing she never saw coming. In May she issued more than 70 traffic fines to motorists she found to have contravened the rules of the roads.
“You deal with people every day and you also get to find yourself. My biggest takeaway is that we are keeping the public safe. Being on the road is not safe especially with the crime rate but it’s fulfilling.”
It was the beginning of a big opportunity that I don’t take for granted. That’s why I was determined to make the most of it
She saw the job advertisement on erecruitment and applied.
“I was ecstatic when I got the call that I had made it. It was the beginning of a big opportunity that I don’t take for granted. That’s why I was determined to make the most of it.
“They received 600 applications and to be chosen among the 25 from Amathole was a blessing.
“One of my biggest motivations while in college was superintendent Jacobus Pretorius and deputy director Charles Bramwell. I’m truly grateful to the department for giving me the opportunity.”
A total of 150 traffic trainees were awarded bursaries in 2024 academic year, and out of 150 enrolled to do basic traffic diploma, 128 graduated in December.
Nqatha said the department continues to contribute to this ideal and offers deserving youth opportunities to train and remove barriers of entry into the fraternity.
The department awarded bursaries to 10 young people to study aviation.
There was no way I would be able to do this without them. Before this opportunity I was actually working at a petrol station
Zenande Ngxabi from Matetiele and Sinovuyo Kostauli from East London are some of the beneficiaries.
Ngxabi, 24, a student at 43 air school, said: “The bursary means everything, basically a lifeline that shows that they were willing to invest in me and my dreams.
“There was no way I would be able to do this without them. Before this opportunity I was actually working at a petrol station.” The department further funded 194 bursary holders in the 2024 academic year.
The department has placed 127 graduates to be under the internship programme for the 2025 academic year for a period of 24 months.
Nqatha said the purpose of the internship is to expose them to the real world of work experience. A total of 50 artisan students are enrolled at Lovedale FET College and East Cape Midlands colleges for diesel and motor mechanics programmes.
The department recruited 45 road maintenance brigades in Buffalo City municipality and 35 road maintenance brigades in Amahlathi local municipality.
They were recruited for pothole patching, drainage maintenance, grass cutting and bush clearance, road marking, installation of road signs and for supervisory positions.
The department also conducted business management and job preparedness in collaboration with NYDA, and targeted 30 young people around Dikeni, formerly Alice, in the Amathole district.
Daily Dispatch
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