49 IN SCHOOL TAXI - Ou vas after overloading minibus in Mitchells Plain

A MAN has been arrested after he was caught with 49 children crammed into a taxi outside a Mitchells Plain primary school on Wednesday. 

The City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services reports that officers attached to their Transport Enforcement Unit (TEU) impounded the taxi and charged the driver for not having a permit.

The City’s Traffic spokesperson Kevin Jacobs wysed: “Officers attached to the City’s Transport Enforcement Unit were stunned when 49 children poured out of a taxi during a scholar enforcement operation. The incident took place yesterday [Wednesday] outside a Mitchells Plain primary school.

“The vehicle was impounded and the driver was charged with not having a permit, overloading and not having a Professional Driving Permit. Arrangements were made for alternative transport for the learners.

“Overloading endangers the lives of every person in the vehicle, as well as other road users. The TEU and enforcement officers will continue to clamp down on drivers who put lives at risk.”

The recent tragic scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, has highlighted the urgent need to strengthen safety measures for learners who depend on daily transport to and from school.

Since schools reopened last month, officers conducted 45 operations, during which they stopped over 1 600 vehicles, issued 1 250 fines totalling over R580 000, impounded 46 vehicles, and discontinued 23 unroadworthy vehicles, many of which were transporting learners.

Officers also found drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, widespread overloading, unroadworthy vehicles, and operators deliberately diverting from known enforcement routes. 

Three drivers were arrested for driving under the influence. A total of 109 fines were issued.

Cape parents have been urged to educate themselves on scholar transport safety.

A Delft mother, who commented on the recent Vanderbijlpark incident, said: “It never crossed my mind to ask for the necessary certificates or paperwork, which is actually so important because we are literally trusting these people with our children’s lives.

"I don’t think we as parents are educated enough on scholar transport safety.”