A truck driver employed by Transcor, a Johannesburg based transport company was arrested by North West provincial traffic officers at the Koster Weighbridge on Saturday morning for exceeding the permissible maximum mass by 30 000 kilograms (kg).
The 47 years old truck driver is detained in police custody pending his court appearance on Monday.
According to the National Road Traffic Act, the permissible maximum combination mass for transportation of goods on public roads is 56 000kg however, at the time of his arrest, the trucker was transporting an excavator and his truck weighed 86 000kg. The driving axel unit of the truck he was driving at the time of his arrest was overloaded by 1 600kg while the converter dolly was overloaded by 3 280kg.
In 2006, a truck belonging to the same company was arrested for overloading and fined R20 000 by the Koster magistrate court.
“As part of implementing our rolling enforcement plan, we are determined to clamp on overloading of truck as they contribute to a large extend to potholes and damage to our road surface,” says Public Safety MEC, Howard Yawa.
Meanwhile, no accidents and incidents were reported in the past 24 hours on the R503 road between Mafikeng and Lichtenburg since the commencement of a month long zero tolerance traffic law enforcement operation dubbed operation moretlwa, die poppe sal dans on Friday.
Three drivers were arrested for driving without licenses. Summonses were also issued to two drivers for worn out tyres, two taxis for operating without permits, two vehicles for overloading, one taxi for operating on a wrong route, and yet another for fitted illegal extra seats.
A government vehicle was also impounded for being driven by an official without a valid route from. The joint operation involves provincial Department of Public Safety traffic, South African Police Service (SAPS), Ditsobotla and Mafikeng local municipalities
Enquiries: Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 9164
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Public Safety, North West Provincial Government
29 August 2009
