PLAY YOUR PART MEC URGES TAXI INDUSTRY

The MEC for Transport in KZN, S’bu Ndebele has urged taxi Associations, operators and rank managers not to allow unroadworthy vehicles to operate on the roads.

This follows Saturday’s incidents where two roadrunners were killed and several others seriously injured, allegedly by an unroadworthy minibus taxi.

‘The recently launched Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) was formed to deal with these kinds of vehicles that endanger innocent people on public roads. We are, through this unit, going to clean up the industry for the good of us all,’ said Mr Ndebele.

The MEC expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the members of the bereaved families and the injured.

‘Road safety is a responsibility that should be borne by all of us. We cannot allow more lives to be destroyed whilst we keep quiet. We can only win this war if the public, along with the law enforcement agencies in this country, increase their vigilance and do not tolerate lawlessness on our roads,’ he said.

It was in the interest of the taxi industry and the whole country that unroadworthy vehicles should not be allowed on the roads. The PTEU would enforce the law and ensure that, as far as they could, no vehicle transporting the public was allowed to be a coffin on wheels, he said.

Together, we need to ensure that driver and vehicle fitness is not compromised, Mr Ndebele stressed.

Meanwhile, the PTEU has scored another victory, over the weekend, with the impounding of 32 government vehicles used illegally.

As part of Operation Shanela, the unit impounded 32 government cars across the province, which were being used without proper authorisation.

The operation took place in, among others, Ulundi, along the tollgates on the N3, Ladysmith and Empangeni.

The following vehicles were impounded at these areas:

Offences ranged from driving a state vehicle without proper trip authority to driving without a valid licence. Two vehicles, impounded in Ladysmith, were found at shebeens over the weekend.

For the vehicles to be released proper explanation of the reasons why the cars were being used without authority and outside of working hours needs to be furnished to the Provincial Motor Transport (PMT). It is, therefore, the responsibility of the individual departments to ensure that the errant drivers are appropriately disciplined.

It is estimated that the province loses over R 5 million due to this illegal practice every year. The public is also urged to report misuse of government vehicles to the following number 0800 002 375.

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