Ironman disruption averted after traffic cops paid R3.6m

AN INTERNATIONAL embarrassment was averted at the 11th hour yesterday when the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality coughed up R3.6-million to pay traffic officers who had threatened to disrupt the Ironman triathlon in Port Elizabeth on Sunday by blocking the routes.

The strong-arm tactics of the more than 100 men and women traffic officers – who have been demanding overtime dating back to 2006 – have been condemned by tourism experts, politicians and accountability monitors who criticised the municipality for giving in and for not acting sooner.

Grahamstown’s Public Service Accountability Monitor director Jay Kruuse said threats by law enforcers should not be taken lightly.

-Gareth Wilson