Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Mr Pat Ngomane, said in a statement Mr John Fanyana Sibanyoni, chairman of SANTACO in the province was arrested.
Mr Sibanyoni was arrested on 21 August by the traffic intervention unit for speeding on the N4 highway at about 12.26am.
He was caught driving a Toyota Hilux LDV at 167 km/h on a 120 km/h zone near Alkmaar and was released on a thousand rand bail at the Nelspruit Police Station on the same day.
He appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court today, 22 August.
MEC Ngomane said in the light of the SANTACO Hlokomela road safety campaign, leaders such as Mr Sibanyoni are supposed to be exemplary in the community and in the taxi business.
“Taxi associations employ drivers who are entrusted with the lives of commuters that they transport on a regular basis, and it is the responsibility of each and every taxi owner or association to ensure that their drivers adhere to the rules of the road and are physically fit to be on the road.
“It however becomes difficult when those who are supposed to lead by example and instill discipline are the ones who break the law. We can never win this battle on our own as the government, we need the buy-in from all structures in the community.”
He added that traffic officers will not be scared to arrest anyone, regardless of their statuses or positions, as no one is above the law.
