North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa has welcomed the decision of the Koster Magistrate Court to extend charges to the owner of a Johannesburg based transport company. A 47 years truck driver employed by Transcor appeared in court yesterday following his arrest over the weekend at the Koster Weighbridge for exceeding the permissible maximum mass by 30 000 kilograms (kg).
“It is about time that owners of transport companies take overall responsibility for overloading of their vehicles. The state of some of our roads bears testimony of the extent to which their vehicles are damaging our roads,” says MEC Yawa.
In terms of the National Road Traffic Act, the permissible maximum combination mass for transportation of goods on public roads is 56 000 kg. A court may impose a maximum fine of R120 000 for overloading or jail term of five years.
At the time of his arrest, the trucker was transporting an excavator to Lichtenburg and his truck weighed 86 000 kg. The company’s permit for overloading up to 76 000 kg was not valid as it does not allow transportation on weekends and public holidays. The driving axel unit of the truck was overloaded by 1 600 kg while the converter dolly was overloaded by 3 280 kg.
Meanwhile, the combination of vehicles was only released on Tuesday after the company acquired a new abnormal exemption permit for the overload mass. The company was fined R20 000 by the same court in 2006 for overloading. The owner and his driver are expected to appear in court on the 21st of this month.
Enquiries: Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018381 9164
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
