The operators at the TMC are responsible for visual surveillance of the freeway network to detect incidents and manage traffic flows.   

Cutting-edge technology managed by the South African National Roads Agency (SOC) Limited (SANRAL), combined with the quick action of law enforcement officers led to the swift apprehension of hijackers near Alexandra. 

The hijackers were spotted on cameras operated by the SANRAL Traffic Management Centre (TMC) and arrested by police officials within 13 minutes after the hijacking occurred near the London Road exit on the N3. 

The cameras used form part of SANRAL’s Freeway Management System (FMS) used to manage traffic flow and incidents on strategic national roads. 

According to SANRAL spokesperson Vusi Mona, one of the supervisors on duty at the TMC alerted the Joburg Metro Police officials – also stationed at the centre – of suspicious activity next to the road. 

This was picked up from the closed-circuit television cameras used to monitor major roads in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. 

Real–time surveillance  

The operators at the TMC are responsible for visual surveillance of the freeway network to detect incidents and manage traffic flows.  

When incidents occur, response vehicles are dispatched and the public is informed through Variable Message Signs (VMS) located along the freeways, on Twitter and the i-Traffic website.  

In Gauteng, SANRAL has its own fleet of On-Road-Service vehicles that assist with securing, clearing and re-instatement of traffic on the Gauteng e-roads. 

All this happens in real time. 

In the Alexandra hijacking, the JMPD alerted its freeway unit, which apprehended the perpetrators. 

“The close-circuit cameras are vital to our efforts to improve the safety and comfort of commuters who travel on the SANRAL network,” said Mona.  

“One of the benefits of the Freeway Management system is that it introduced a comprehensive monitoring system that can detect crashes, stationary vehicles, veld fires and hijackings. 

“This incident again demonstrated the value that a well-managed road network brings to road users and to the social economy of the country,” he said. 

Recently the SANRAL ITS received a prestigious engineering award for its ability to optimise traffic flow, improve road safety and enhance traffic management on the road network.  

This is a ground–breaking intervention and has since influenced several engineering disciplines to develop advanced transportation solutions for the country. 

Mona said SANRAL is proud to have partnered with local law enforcement authorities, provincial governments and various agencies from the Department of Transport to make this work. 

The SANRAL TMC operates 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to keep road users safe . Mona encourages the public to visit the i-Traffic website at www.i-traffic.co.za for more information and to get all the latest updates.