The Buffalo City Metro (BCM) executed the arrest of a taxi driver who was caught ferrying 42 school kids from different schools around East London.
According to a statement by the BCM, the repeat offender was arrested on the spot while delivering school kids, and a case was opened. The statement said the overloaded taxi was impounded, tested, and also found to have faulty brakes.
“The BCM is advising parents who are opting to have their kids commute via public transport instead of private contracts, to be hands-on. Traffic officers counted 37 kids from the taxi while seven ran away while it was being processed,” the statement added.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya commended the officers for being vigilant, saying their actions saved lives. “One can only imagine what happens to children that are packed like sardines during an accident. It is extremely risky and reckless to overload like that.”
“We suspect that parents are not aware that their kids are being crammed in such a manner because no parent would allow their child’s safety to be compromised that way. But such ignorance is not an excuse; parents must take responsibility,” he concluded. Following this incident, the BCM has vowed to intensify roadblocks and patrols towards ensuring car fitness and preventing reckless driving.
