The North West Public Safety Road Traffic Management this week embarked on a law enforcement operation to curb overloading of scholars and illegal operations that cause conflict within the taxi industry.
North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa says that the operation was necessitated by overloading of scholars in taxis which his department has observed. The phenomenon has also resulted in conflicts among taxi operators as it benefited illegal operators hence the proactive operation to prevent incidents and accidents that can be caused by overloaded taxis.
On the first day of the operation on Monday, 109 vehicles were stopped around the provincial capital of Mahikeng and 32 scholar transport operators issued with fines. Nine were drivers issued with fines for transporting scholars while they were not in possession of public driving permits, eight were without drivers licenses, eight for passenger overload and seven for illegal transportation.
A taxi 14 seater vehicle transporting learners to Sol Plaatjie High School was found to be overloaded with 28 passengers. “One cannot just imagine the untold disaster in case of an accident” says MEC Yawa.
An illegal operator was allegedly assaulted by taxi operators with grievous bodily harm on the morning of 22 July along Nelson Mandela Road in Mahikeng and only quick and positive response of the police prevented loss of life and the situation from getting out of hand.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9123
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
