Traffic officers in Ladanna, Polokwane, intercepted an overloaded minibus this morning, which was transporting 22 schoolchildren in a vehicle licensed to carry only 7, reports Review Online.

Upon seeing the officers, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, leaving the children unattended.

At the time of the interception, the learners should have been in class, underscoring a severe breach of both road safety and child welfare.

“A passenger minibus is not a taxi or a mobile classroom, and overloading is a serious offence,” said Thipa Selala, spokesperson for the Polokwane Municipality.

Selala issued a stern reminder to parents, drivers and transport operators.

“Learner transport is a serious responsibility. Safety must always come first and is non-negotiable. Choosing shortcuts jeopardises lives,” he said.

The Department of Transport and Community Safety said it will not tolerate such reckless behaviour and will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Increased law enforcement

On Monday, 12 schoolchildren were killed when a minibus taxi in which they were travelling collided head-on with a truck in Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng.

Since the tragic incident, Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy and her deputy, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have instructed traffic law enforcement agencies to focus on overloading, vehicle roadworthiness and speeding.

Creecy warned transport operators, buses and taxi associations to get their act together or face the full might of the law.

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