Tshwane Bus Service stopped for overloading. Photo: Twitter
Parents have been urged to make sure that buses taking their children to school are safe, reports the Pretoria North Rekord.
This after a Tshwane bus was stopped by authorities for being overloaded with learners in the west of Pretoria on Thursday morning.
The bus was carrying 167 passengers instead of the prescribed 99.
“We should not just dump our children with bus drivers,” said Gauteng community safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane. “We must make sure they are safe when they get onto these buses.”
Nkosi-Malobane made the remarks during Operation O kae Molao in the Tshwane district, led by SAPS Gauteng commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela.
MEC of Gauteng Community Safety Nkosi Malobane conducting Operation OkaeMolao. Photo: Twitter
Tshwane MMC for roads and transport Sheila Lynn Senkubuge expressed her shock at the overloaded bus after the images went viral on social media.
“The bus was packed to the rafters with school pupils and the photos are a cause for concern.
Senkubuge described the incident as horrific and “daring death”.
“The city would like to emphasise its commitment to road safety in the strongest terms,” she said. “We condemn the overloading of our buses.”
Senkubuge also called on parents to stop pressuring drivers to let additional passengers aboard.
“The bus driver involved was called in to account on what led to this despicable and dangerous conduct.”
Senkubuge said the city was working hard at procuring more buses.
She said recent fuel increases had resulted in motorists abandoning their private transportation and opting for alternative modes such as metro buses instead.
“This has resulted in an influx of commuters in the city’s buses.”
Senkubuge lauded police and Tshwane metro police for enforcing traffic laws that govern and regulate vehicles without favour.
“City vehicles and drivers should not be excluded from rules that compel road users to behave in an orderly manner.”
She said the city would be working with the department of community safety in Tshwane as the Easter holidays approached to ensure the law was upheld at all times.
167 school kids found on an overloaded Tshwane bus prescribed for 99 passengers.
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