MEDIA STATEMENT

NEARLY 200 TRAFFIC OFFENCES RECORDED IN JUST TWO DAYS

Members of the KZN Transport Department's Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) charged scores of motorists and impounded fourteen (14) public transport vehicles in just two days.

This latest operation by the PTEU was conducted in the Port Shepstone region on the South Coast of KZN last Saturday and Sunday, specifically targeting public transport vehicles such as buses, taxis and other passenger  carrying vehicles.

Eleven mini-bus taxis and three Toyota Ventures were impounded because the drivers were not in possession of the necessary operating permits. One driver was also arrested for drunk driving, nineteen (19) vehicles were taken off the road for being in an un-roadworthy condition and motorists were charged for 192 various other traffic offences.

The PTEU was officially launched on 22 August 2002 by KZN Transport MEC S'bu Ndebele and is dedicated to ensuring road traffic compliance within the public transport sector. The main work of this unit is to ensure that:

• Drivers are properly licensed and in possession of a professional driving permit (PrDP). In terms of the National Road Traffic Act, a PrDP must be renewed every twelve months.

• Vehicles are roadworthy and display a valid Certificate of Fitness (COF) which is renewable every twelve months.

• Trading rights are not infringed.

• Commuters are properly informed and aware of their rights. Of particular concern is the fact that passengers using an illegal taxi will not be fully compensated by the Road Accident Fund should they be involved in a road crash.

Ndebele has congratulated law enforcement officers from the PTEU for the excellent work that they have been doing in the public transport industry.

"Since its inception the PTEU has assisted tremendously in preventing drivers and operators in the public transport industry from acting illegally, irresponsibly and recklessly on our roads and for this we want to thank these officers. We also want to thank the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Council (KWANATACO), the South African Bus Owners Association (SABOA) and all other stakeholders in the public transport industry who have assisted us in this regard", Ndebele said.

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