40 learners and four teachers found in one taxi during roadblock in Giyani

LIMPOPO – Forty children between the ages of five and seven years, all packed into a 22-seater taxi, was just one of several road regulations offences witnessed by highly placed officials during a roadblock in Giyani last week.

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The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Namane Dickson Masemola witnessed how, during Operation Tshwara Tsotsi which was conducted on the R81, a taxi driver was pulled over and the discovery of the 40 young learners transported by one taxi, was made. The roadblock was conducted by traffic cops, the police, Home Affairs officials and other stakeholders as part of a campaign to rid the road of unroadworthy vehicles and other criminal elements ahead of the approaching festive season.

The kids were all dressed in their Xitsonga attire and were accompanied by four teachers on their way to a function at a nearby village when the driver was pulled over. “Such overloading cannot be allowed on our roads. Imagine what would have happened had they been involved in an accident,” the MEC asked as the police impounded the taxi and arrested the driver.

The man was, however, later released at the scene after it was verified that he had a permit to work on the particular route. He was charged with failing to comply with the terms and conditions of the operating licence and was told to bring R5 000 to have the vehicle released, and another R1 000 which relates to licensing issues.

On the same day, the MEC proceeded to Matshama-hi-nkanu section, one of the more notorious areas in Giyani in terms of crime, where he uprooted dagga in one of the yards while doing a house-to-house search for drugs, guns and other illegal items.

Masemole said 131 people were arrested on the day. He was also present as several foreigner-owned shops which were operating illegally, were closed down.

capvoice@nmgroup.co.za