By: Nhlanhla Mthembu

The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department held the first annual Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) Awards at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Tuesday.

Transport MEC Willies Mchunu said that the awards aimed  to celebrate and promote service excellence among traffic officers.

“Through these awards we want to improve road safety and to motivate our men and women in uniform to improve their performance in road traffic management,” said Mchunu.

He added, “We want to generate high moral standards and values among our traffic officers. We also want to motivate our officers to reignite their passion and love for serving people.”

Advocate Simo Chamane, chairman of the RTI awards panel, said that even though the guidelines and procedures were made easier, the panel had faced challenges.

“Some senior officers from various stations nominated themselves while guidelines instructed that they should be selected by their colleagues and must have served at least 60% in each category,” said Chamane.

The awards had nine categories:

– Long Service Excellence

-Most Innovative Idea

-Best Dressed Officer

-Most Outstanding Station

-Most Outstanding Region

-Bravery Award-Outstanding Officer of the year

-HOD Special Recognition Award

-MEC Discretionary Award

The Bravery Award went to the late Provincial Inspector Mzwandile Dinga who was shot dead by criminals last year while on duty on the M25 in KwaMashu.

The Traffic Officer of the Year award went to Chief Inspector Aboo Aboobaker, who was described by his colleagues as a dedicated person.