Two Reed Dance buses fail safety inspection
Two buses that were to be used to transport maidens failed inspections by Richards Bay officials.
OF the ten buses scheduled to transport young women from Richards Bay to the annual Reed Dance in Nongoma, two have failed a safety inspection.
‘Ten buses were thoroughly inspected. Two buses from an undisclosed private bus company failed the test and were sent back to the depot. The company dispatched another two buses which underwent the same inspection,’ said City Spokesperson Mdu Ncalane.
Ncalane assured the Zululand Observer that the issues were minor, relating to passenger safety rather than roadworthiness.
Safety concerns
The City wanted to ensure the safety of the 680 young women and their 36 minders, who would be travelling to the Royal Reed Dance at Nyokeni Palace in KwaNongoma, in light of the deaths of 65 maidens in a tragic accident in Swaziland last weekend.
Ward 22 Councillor Mfundo Mthenjana said it was an important exercise for the city after an incident like last year’s accident at Nkwalini where 10 people died.
Cllr Mthenjana collaborated with Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) officials to have the vehicles inspected at a private testing centre in Alton, Richards Bay.
CoU Speaker Cllr MW Mthenjana inspecting the Reed Dance buses before they depart for Nongoma @ZOPublications pic.twitter.com/kDdZXlSBl4
— uMhlathuze (@UmhlathuzeM) September 3, 2015
‘Our traffic officers will conduct another driver inspection, check their profiles and experiences to ascertain their records,’ he said.
Officers have escorted the buses from Richards Bay to Nongoma safely and will travel with the buses again on Monday, to monitor driver behaviour on the road.
All drivers will also undergo breathaliser tests for the consumption of alcohol before being allowed to get behind the wheel.
The tests will continue during the event and before departure for the return on Monday while an alcohol ban was also implemented at the venue.
