A recent road safety blitz in Midvaal has exposed critical issues within the scholar transport sector, with some children found sitting on car batteries instead of proper seats.

Midvaal Local Municipality (MLM) Mayor Peter Teixeira joined forces with the traffic division to inspect scholar transport permits, prevent learner overloading, and ensure vehicle roadworthiness. The inspections revealed numerous serious contraventions.

According to Teixeira, several heavy motor vehicles and buses were unroadworthy. Even more concerning were several minibus taxis operating without valid Professional Driving Permits (PrDPs).

“In many scholar transport vehicles, we found children being dangerously overloaded, with some forced to sit on benches and even on car batteries that had been improvised as makeshift seats,” said Teixeira.

Vehicles with mechanical defects were immediately pulled off the road and impounded, while drivers without the correct paperwork were stopped from working.

The mayor praised the traffic division for consistently rising to the challenge and pursuing innovative approaches to strengthen traffic services and enhance road safety.

“Significant investments have been made in mobile radios, vehicle-monitoring cameras, law-enforcement scanners, and other critical support resources,” Teixeira added.

Teixeira noted that Midvaal traffic officers are equipped with body-worn cameras and traffic scanners, which promote improved performance, accountability, and ethical conduct.

“These interventions form part of our ongoing commitment to protecting lives and making Midvaal’s roads safer for all,” Teixeira concluded.