Cape Town - Traffic officers in Cape Town pulled over a minibus taxi on the corner of Erica Drive and Chestnut Road in Belhar last Thursday. On closer inspection the taxi, which is meant to carry 14 passengers, was found to be carrying 32 passengers.
The driver was unlicenced and he was subsequently arrested and had his vehicle impounded.
"This is an absolutely shocking incident. While I understand that there is immense pressure on the public transport system as well as the people who rely on it to get to work, there is no excuse for this type of behaviour. I shudder to think of the consequences if that vehicle had to be in a collision. I appeal to the public to please steer clear of overloaded vehicles, for their own safety and that of others.
"Incidents like these do nothing for the reputation of the taxi industry and so I also call on owners and associations to address this type of lawlessness,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security; and Social Services, Alderman JP Smith.
The driver appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday.