Cape Town — A taxi driver from Cape Town was arrested after he was allegedly caught drunk driving and overloading his school shuttle, during a safety operation conducted in Mitchell’s Plain.
Western Cape Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie was in Mitchell’s Plain this morning, conducting a safety check on scholar transport vehicles, to ensure children got to school safely. The Western Cape government was working alongside City traffic officials in a joint operation.
During an operation in the vicinity of two schools in the Mitchells Plain area this morning, Traffic Officers impounded at least 19 vehicles, The City of Cape Town said. A key challenge remains the number of drivers transporting children without the necessary permits and qualifications.
“Providing a service without the necessary operating license is one thing, but even more scary and disconcerting is the number of people who get behind the wheel without a professional driving permit, or even a driving license. It is absolutely mind-boggling, and speaks to a complete disregard for the young lives in their care. Add overloaded and unroadworthy vehicles to the mix, and you have a recipe for potential disaster.” Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, said.
In Mitchell’s Plain this morning checking scholar transport vehicles and drivers to make sure children get to school safely.
Our @WCGov_Mobility Provincial Regulatory Entity (licensing) working alongside @CityofCT traffic officials pic.twitter.com/8eKW2emII5
— Ricardo Mackenzie MPL🇿🇦 (@ricardomackenzi) January 18, 2024
Mackenzie was shocked to confirm the arrest of one person who was allegedly intoxicated while dropping off children at school, IOL reported.
“This is part of our ongoing operations to check scholar transport at the beginning of the school year. What has happened so far this morning, one driver has been arrested for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol. His vehicle was also overloaded and the vehicle was impounded.” Mackenzie said.
“Another vehicle has also been impounded. The driver has no operating permit or public driving permit to drive children to school. It is obviously unsafe and it is our aim to make it safe for children to get to school,” he added.
According to EWN, Mackenzie said driver recklessness would not be tolerated and that the enforcement operations would continue throughout 2024 to ensure the safety of school children.
The city is on high alert following an incident in May 2023 when six children died in a car crash when a bakkie transporting them to school rolled multiple times and hit a traffic light along AZ Berman Drive in Mitchell’s Plain.
Our scholar transport operation in Mitchell’s Plain this morning with @CityofCT Alderman JPSmith.
Our operations is not just around enforcement but awareness and education to schools and parents for safer scholar transport. pic.twitter.com/QqRRMX5IEk
— Ricardo Mackenzie MPL🇿🇦 (@ricardomackenzi) January 18, 2024
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Picture: X/@CityofCT
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
