After 39 years of service as a Traffic Officer, Cape Town’s very own Heathcliff Thomas will put his career in ‘park’ this week as he retires from Traffic Service.
Thomas, who grew up in Silvertown, pursued this career thanks to his admiration of traffic officers as a young man, which was further fuelled by his television hero, Francis Poncherello of the hit series, CHIPS, about the Californian Highway Patrol.
“Among his many highlights since joining the Traffic Service in 1983, was being appointed Traffic Chief of the City of Tygerberg in 1997, completing his Master’s degree, securing a part-time lecturing post at the then-Peninsula Technikon (Pentech), now Cape Peninsula University of Technology in addition to his day job, and of course his ‘eye in the sky’ traffic reports featured on GoodHope FM,” the City of Cape Town explains.
“I want to thank each and every staff member for helping to build this Traffic Service into one that is recognised as a leader both nationally, and internationally. Furthermore, I want to encourage them to continue striving for their dreams, and to keep the flag flying high. Remain professional at all times, but also flexible and innovative – in other words embrace technology and change. Do not be afraid to ask questions, take the risk – he who doesn’t gamble, can’t win,” Thomas said, who will be heading to Academia to ply his trade there.
His journey through the ranks is largely celebrated, and it’s one that will hopefully inspire a new generation of traffic officers in an ever-changing landscape.
“There really are no words that can adequately describe the immense contribution that the Chief has not only made to the service, but also public safety. But we will be forever grateful, and commit ourselves to building on the very solid foundation that he has laid. The City thanks Chief Thomas for his service, and wishes him well on his new journey,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
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Picture: City of Cape Town