THE metro police will launch an investigation after one of its bakkie’s was spotted transporting people on the back last week.
The photograph was sent to Kempton EXPRESS by a reader, who took the photograph at 5pm on Thursday last week on Pretoria Road close to Birchleigh Railway Station.
According to Lt Col Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesman, it is not only a question of overloading. “In an open back LDV like the one in the picture, it is not only an offence to be not seated but also very dangerous as the sudden stop of the vehicle could jettison the occupants onto the hard tarmac or into the path of other traffic.”
He says the National Road Traffic Act provides that passengers transported in the back of an open vehicle or in a goods compartment, the sides must be a minimum height of 350mm above the seating surface or 900mm above the surface on which a person is standing. Effectively this means that only minimal side protection is offered and there is no need for a roof covering at all.
The act further provides that no person shall be conveyed in the goods compartment together with any tools or goods, except their personal effects, unless that portion in which such persons are being conveyed is separated by means of a partition from the portion in which such goods are conveyed.
“The matter will be reported to the EMPD Internal Affairs to conduct an investigation. The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to your publication,” Kgasago said.
