A taxi driver was arrested and fined R3 500 for loading 26 school children in a vehicle certified to carry 9 passengers. The driver was arrested along the Vryburg road during the Jaws special operations focusing on overloading, taxi/vehicle and driver fitness.
The North West Traffic Authorities issued about 38 summonses worth R28 900 to those found overloading and other offenses such as driving without driver’s licenses and PdPs during the operation which started as early as 4am this morning and lasted for six hours.
More than hundred commuters were left stranded and inconvenienced as their drivers had to be taken to different police stations to pay spot fines and those taxis were impounded. About four taxis were also impounded for being unroadworthy.
North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi said the department has realised that most of taxi drivers overload school kids and Traffic Authorities will definitely work hard and deal harshly with those found on the wrong side of the law.
“Most of overloading cases are registered in the morning more especially to school transport drivers. We will continue to monitor school transport on daily basis and those found overloading will be penalised,” said Maloyi.
MEC Maloyi further pleaded with parents to monitor their children’s transporters by making sure that they travel safe to and from school. “Parents must ensure that their children are transported with roadworthy vehicles and that they are not overloaded because that exposes them to danger.”
Maloyi said overloading is one of the contributory factors that lead to high number of fatalities on our road.
Enquiries:
Simon Lesolang Mmope
Acting Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 4826
Cell: 082 574 7621
Fax: 018 391 0328
Email: smmope@nwpg.gov.za
