Driver nabbed with 50 pupils in taxi

A PORT Elizabeth taxi driver was arrested for allegedly transporting 50 pupils in his 15-seater vehicle in KwaDwesi yesterday.

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the taxi was pulled over by policemen at about 7am.

“KwaDwesi police stopped the Quantum taxi travelling along Uitenhage Road after spotting several children inside the vehicle,” she said.

“When they stopped the minibus, they found 50 children squashed inside.”

The taxi is legally only allowed to transport 15 people.

The pupils were being driven to Spencer Mabija Combined School in KwaMagxaki.

“The driver was arrested on the spot for violating the National Road Traffic Act and the minibus taxi was impounded.”

Naidu appealed to parents to ensure their children did not get into overloaded taxis. “We are urging parents to make sure that their children arrive alive at school.

“Overloading school children in taxis is one of the major factors leading to tragedy and serious accidents.

“Authorities in Nelson Mandela Bay are embarking on a joint clampdown on all public transport drivers to prevent overloading, which could possibly avert fatal accidents.”

Naidu said alternative transport was provided for the pupils yesterday.

Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie condemned the incident, calling on parents to get involved.

“As a department we are condemning such action as it puts the lives of the learners at risk and we are also calling for parents to get involved in the monitoring of scholar transport operators as well as other transport arrangements that are being made for the learners.

“We need to reinforce the work that is being done by law enforcement officers as communities and take responsibility as well for the safety of our children.

“To put 50 learners in a vehicle fit for 15 is just horrific and unacceptable.

“We are calling on parents to partner with us as they are our eyes and ears and these things are happening in the communities, but before the authorities come in, they should step in,” she said.

Rantjie said the department’s role was to ensure that the pupils were not left stranded today and they had put structures in place to ensure this.

The 33-year-old driver is expected to appear in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court today.

On January 18, a Port Elizabeth bus driver was arrested for overloading after he was caught allegedly transporting 130 pupils – 40 more than allowed – in Markman.