Metro traffic parade at matric dance

I WISH to lodge the strongest objection to the flagrant abuse of two metro traffic vehicles (maybe three) on Saturday evening, February 8.

My family were among the large and excited crowd of onlookers in front of Collegiate High School, watching the parade of dazzling vehicles delivering couples to the matric dance.

The parade started at about 6.15pm and continued for just over two hours. The excitement was electric as each couple tried to outdo the others with their choice of transport. This included luxury cars, a hay-bearing truck, a tractor, a horse-drawn cart and tuk-tuks. There were several limos, a red Ferrari, some vintage cars and an old Beetle.

However, onlookers gasped in disbelief when two metro traffic vehicles, with blue lights flashing, finally made it to the drop-off zone, escorting what appeared to be an official VIP vehicle.

These three vehicles had waited their turn for over an hour in the long queue from Conynham Road and Fleet 9391 and 9498 had their blue lights flashing as the couple emerged from an SUV at about 7.57pm.

Once off-loaded, the three metro vehicles left in a convoy, with many wondering who had approved such an obvious abuse of metro vehicles.

Accordingly, I request answers to the following questions:

Were these two metro traffic officers and vehicles on approved duty, and if so, who approved this usage?

•  What was the cost of these two vehicles standing in the queue for more than 90 minutes? (from about 6.45 to 8.15pm)
•  Did the officers driving these vehicles get paid or claim overtime, and if so, on what basis?
•  Is the SUV an official vehicle of the metro?
•  If so, who approved this usage?

ý If the officers driving these vehicles were doing so without authorisation, what action will be taken against them?

Most metro residents complain about the lack of traffic policing on our suburban roads and the incident at Collegiate on Saturday night highlights just how our own metro traffic department has lost the plot.

Incidentally, en route to the event, I drove past the scene of the gang shooting in Humewood, where no traffic officers were seen.

Stanford Slabbert, Ward 1 candidate