The Eastern Cape Transport Department says a taxi driver has been arrested in King Williams Town for cramming 24 people into his taxi which has a capacity for just 15 passengers.
Transport Ministry spokesperson, Ncedo Kumbaca, says the driver was also found to be in possession of a fire-arm with an expired license.
He says the arrest of the taxi driver on Wednesday came during the ongoing blitz on scholar transport which began in Buffalo City on Monday.
Kumbaca says these operations will continue until there's full compliance by scholar transport operators.
He provided the following statistics:
-470 vehicles were stopped and checked
-87 notices (tickets) worth R35 200 were issued
-28 drivers were caught transporting learners without drivers' licences
-24 vehicles were caught overloaded
-11 operators were caught driving learners without using the seat belts for both the driver and the learners,
-5 drivers only had learners' licences
-5 vehicles were suspended
-3 vehicles were caught with parking brakes defaults.
"We salute all the provincial traffic officers for the good work that they are doing to protect our children and public transport commuters in general. Your efforts are in line with our vision of providing an efficient, safe, sustainable, affordable and accessible transport system," said Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana.
"We expect these operators to transport our learners safely and ensure that they reach their schools on time," she added.
The Department of Transport said members of the public, especially the learners, educators and parents are encouraged to continue to notify the Eastern Cape Department of Transport about any challenges in the transportation of learners and members of the public in general through our toll free number 0800 644 644.
