Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
Hundreds of pupils from primary schools around Durban were left stranded yesterday morning when the Durban Metro police swooped on illegal operators ferrying them to different schools.
Forty vans were impounded, and as a result pupils from primary schools in Bluff, Westridge, Merebank, Yellow Wood Park and other areas were affected.
Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Thozamile Tyala said of the 40 vans, 25 were found to be unroadworthy, and their drivers had no legal papers to transport schoolchildren.
The swoop was part of Operation Juggernaut launched by Transport Minister Jeff Radebe last week.
Radebe's road safety campaign is aimed at strengthening law enforcement on the country's roads throughout the year. It is hoped the campaign will help reduce fatal crashes on the roads.
"We are continuing with the campaign, and our main focus is hazardous areas," said Tyala.
He urged motorists to comply with traffic rules. "Motorists should adhere to what is required by law. We don't want our children or any person to be exposed to dangerous and fatal crashes."
Tyala urged parents not to allow their children to be transported in unroadworthy vehicles, saying this was negligence on their part.
"As things stand at the moment, they must arrange alternative transport to ferry them to schools," Tyala said.
Spokesman for the provincial transport department Nonkululeko Mbatha had not responded to Sowetan's enquiries by late yesterday.
blitz on 'taxis'
Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
Hundreds of pupils from primary schools around Durban were left stranded yesterday morning when the Durban Metro police swooped on illegal operators ferrying them to different schools.
Forty vans were impounded, and as a result pupils from primary schools in Bluff, Westridge, Merebank, Yellow Wood Park and other areas were affected.
Metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Thozamile Tyala said of the 40 vans, 25 were found to be unroadworthy, and their drivers had no legal papers to transport schoolchildren.
The swoop was part of Operation Juggernaut launched by Transport Minister Jeff Radebe last week.
Radebe's road safety campaign is aimed at strengthening law enforcement on the country's roads throughout the year. It is hoped the campaign will help reduce fatal crashes on the roads.
"We are continuing with the campaign, and our main focus is hazardous areas," said Tyala.
He urged motorists to comply with traffic rules. "Motorists should adhere to what is required by law. We don't want our children or any person to be exposed to dangerous and fatal crashes."
Tyala urged parents not to allow their children to be transported in unroadworthy vehicles, saying this was negligence on their part.
"As things stand at the moment, they must arrange alternative transport to ferry them to schools," Tyala said.
Spokesman for the provincial transport department Nonkululeko Mbatha had not responded to Sowetan's enquiries by late yesterday.