24 November 2006
Nelspruit - Frustrations were written all over the faces of bus commuters
who were travelling through the N4 freeway yesterday when the roads and
transport department impounded the buses which they were travelling on.
The department impounded 9 buses during the day-long law enforcement
operation held on the N4, outside Nelspruit.
The detention of these buses was due to their minimal compliance to required
vehicle roadworthy fitness standards. Most of them were found with very poor
braking systems, oil leaks and faulty steering mechanism after they were tested
at the Mbombela Local Municipality testing station.
Part of the 9 buses, 5 were released later on the day after the owners
managed to each pay a fine of R1 500. The other five were written off the road
and are still in the custody of the department, since they were found to be
severely unroadworthy.
Some of the operators managed to later send buses � from their depots - to
pick up their commuters and resume transporting them to their destinations.
Most of the buses were from Mozambique heading to Johannesburg and vice
versa.
As the festive season approaches, in Mpumalanga, the Department of Roads and
Transport will constantly continue with such law enforcement operations on
roads.
The Department of Roads and Transport warns all vehicle drivers to ensure
their vehicle's roadworthiness before they hit the road, and to obey the road
rules during this festive season. Should they fail, they would face the fire as
our slogan is "Sivuth' Umlilo." Arrive Alive!
Enquiries:
Mr Vukani Mnyandu
Tel: (013) 766 6228
Cell: 083 956 0700
E-Mail: vmnyandu@nel.mpu.gov.za
Issued by: Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport, Mpumalanga
Provincial Government
24 November 2006
