More than 100 children from a creche were squeezed into a taxi registered to carry 26 people, and 28 children were found packed into a bakkie at Khayelitsha in Cape Town on Friday.
Traffic officers Jaco Strydom and Vernon Johnson, who stopped the taxi, were speechless when they counted 105 children between the ages of three and six, and eight adults including the driver, crammed into the taxi registered to carry 26 people.
The creche had hired the bus to take the children to the Monwabisi resort for the day.
Mogammat Mustapha, media liaison assistant for Cape Town Traffic Services, said the driver was arrested because he had five outstanding warrants against him.
He was fined for driving without a licence, having an expired operator's disc and for overloading.
"The vehicle was taken to the Khayelitsha Traffic Department where it was released to the owner," Mustapha said.
"The City of Cape Town's Social Services Department transported the children and adults back to the creche. They were disappointed that they had been denied their promised outing, but schools must ensure that the vehicles they use are roadworthy and that the drivers have the necessary licences."
Strydom said hours later, at the same spot, they pulled over a bakkie transporting 28 school children.
The driver ran away and taxis were organised to take the children home. - Own Correspondent