As part of MEC Mazibuko special project as well as transport month activities, a total of 175 learner transport vehicles have been taken off the road yesterday.
The operation that took place yesterday in Pretoria involved all learner transport operating in Nelmaphius, Silverton, Menlo Park and Eersterus respectively.
The discontinued vehicles did not only lose their license disks but will also be marked on the E-Natis system. Prior resuming operation, the vehicles must fix all defects and the vehicle be subjected to a vehicle fitness test done at any vehicle testing centre.
Since the operation started in April 2011 to date more than 1100 learner transport have been discontinued from operation. It is worrying that most learner transport vehicles stopped and checked had defects ranging from steering mechanism, worn tyres, shocks, brakes failure etc.
The MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko calls for parents to actively take responsibility on the condition and the number of passengers their learners ride to school with. "We parents often escort our kids when boarding the learner transport vehicles. Upon suspecting any defects or overload, parents must not only discontinue using the vehicle but also report it to Gauteng Traffic Police. This will go a long way to demonstrate the love we have for our kids and assist the government’s efforts of reducing road accidents and fatalities on Gauteng roads” said MEC Mazibuko.
These operations will go way beyond transport month and more operators must expect Gauteng Traffic to be on their case from time to time until the situation normalises.
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