South African province has a shortage of 1,188 traffic officers

Limpopo province has a shortage of 1,188 traffic officers, or nearly 50% of the required complement to optimally fulfil its traffic-law-enforcement mandate.

This was revealed by Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba in response to a question about the shortage of traffic officers and operational resources in the province.

Ramathuba said that Limpopo requires 2,452 traffic officers to optimally fulfil its traffic law enforcement mandate.

However, the province currently has only 1,264 traffic officers. This means Limpopo province has a shortage of 1,188 traffic officers.

The Limpopo Premier’s response further revealed concerns regarding the provincial traffic vehicle fleet.

400 vehicles are currently available for use, while 200 vehicles are at the state garage. These 200 include vehicles that must be written off.

Franco Marx, a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature, said that these figures raise concerns about the province’s capacity to maintain visible traffic policing.

It also raises questions about officers’ ability to conduct effective law-enforcement operations and respond to road-safety challenges across Limpopo.

“The shortage is concerning, as provincial traffic officers must cover vast distances for visible law enforcement on Limpopo’s major routes,” he said.

Marx said that they had previously raised concerns about the diversion of traffic resources to the Premier’s protection arrangements.

“In January 2026, we questioned reports that 12 traffic officers and two additional vehicles were being utilised for the Premier’s protection detail,” he said.

“Every officer and operational vehicle should be deployed where they can contribute to the safety of Limpopo’s road users.”

He said that a comprehensive staffing and fleet-management strategy is required to address the shortage in Limpopo.

“Limpopo cannot achieve safer roads without sufficient officers on the ground and reliable vehicles to deploy them,” he said.