unroadworthy buses in the Eastern Cape
26 March 2009
As part of preparations for the Easter Weekend, the Provincial Traffic
Special Operations Unit suspended 44 unroadworthy buses in various towns in the
Eastern Cape since Sunday 22 March 2009.
This initiative forms part of a national programme focusing on
roadworthiness testing of long distance buses commuting on major roads in the
country. These buses are pulled off the road and then escorted to the nearest
public vehicle testing station to be tested for roadworthiness.
A total of 118 buses have been stopped by the unit in Aliwal North,
Humansdorp, Mt Frere, Mthatha and Port Elizabeth. Most buses were suspended
during the operations at Mt Frere, Aliwal North and Mthatha.
There was the incident on 24 March 2009 at the green bushes area, where a
bus was caught loading 122 children and four adults, and in terms of the Road
Traffic Act, the formula is as follows:
Three children under the age of 12 equal one adult
13 years plus equals to one adult.
The bus was certified to carry 51 seated and 41 standing passengers' equals
to 92.
That means:
50 children between the ages of 6 and 12 equals to 33 adults
77 children above 13 years equals to 77 adults
The total is 33 plus 77 plus 4 equals to 114 passengers 92 to carry equals
to 22 passengers overload.
The driver was arrested and charged at Kabega Park Police Station for:
1. overloading of a bus
2. no transportation permit
3. unroadworthy bus (the bus had no gears)
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca
Cell: 082 442 2388
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial
Government
26 March 2009
