Humble beginnings
The OUTsurance Pointsmen Project was first launched in September 2005 when a group of 21 unemployed men and women received extensive training from the Johannesburg Metro Police Department to alleviate traffic congestion at identified intersections throughout Johannesburg.
These men and women were dispatched to traffic hot spots throughout Johannesburg and soon became a familiar (and welcome) sight at faulty traffic lights or areas affected by power outages or accidents.
This initiative has experienced tremendous growth with 178 Pointsmen and women currently deployed throughout Johannesburg and Tshwane.
Expansion into Paarl and Stellenbosch
Bheki Zondo, Chief Executive Officer at Traffic Freeflow who manages and runs the Pointsmen Project confirmed that 15 Pointsmen and women will be deployed in Drakenstein, Paarl on the 19th of January 2023 with a second team of 15 OUTsurance Pointsmen reporting for duty in Stellenbosch on the 20th of January 2023.
Their first shift will start at 7:00 until 9:00 with the second shift starting at either 13:00-15:00 or 16:00-18:00, depending on whether they will be directing school traffic or afternoon peak-hour traffic. They will be reporting to identified intersections on a daily basis or shuttled to areas affected by load shedding.
As is the case in Johannesburg and Tshwane, Traffic Freeflow will continue to provide crucial project support by liaising with stakeholders such as the Drakenstein and Stellenbosch Municipalities and the respective traffic departments to ensure the successful implementation of traffic control initiatives.
Uplifting local communities
Danie Matthee, Chief Executive Officer at OUTsurance adds that although the Pointsmen Initiative has certainly proved to be a sustainable solution in improving traffic flow, it has also greatly contributed to skills development within underprivileged communities, creating job opportunities for more than 280 matriculants from previously disadvantaged communities.
‘We look forward to making an ever greater impact in 2023 and we hope to expand this initiative to further contribute to the success of South Africa's road safety objectives.’
We’d love to hear how the OUTsurance Pointsmen have made your daily commute easier. Tell us via social media using the hashtag #PointsmenLove.