The Road Traffic Management Corporation has urged scholar transport drivers to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and that they have valid professional driving permits.
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) was among the provinces with the highest number of vehicles stopped and checked by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC). Hundreds of vehicles have been impounded and scores of drivers arrested as traffic authorities intensified their national crackdown on unroadworthy vehicles transporting pupils to school.
These arrests are part of the RTMC’s back-to-school campaign, which started when schools reopened this month. The campaign has so far resulted in 37 548 vehicles being stopped and checked in 484 law enforcement operations in different provinces. The provinces with the highest number of vehicles stopped and checked are KZN, Eastern Cape and Gauteng, RTMC said in a statement released to the media.
“A total of 167 drivers were arrested for, among others, drunken driving, driving while having no driving licence and operating a public transport vehicle in violation of operating permit regulations,” it said in the statement.
“The campaign has highlighted that many scholar transport drivers were driving without fastening their seat belts, some do not have professional drivers’ permits, their vehicles were not licensed, while other vehicles had defects such as cracked windscreens, smooth tyres and faulty brakes. More than 6 240 drivers were given fines for these vehicles, while 965 vehicles were impounded and 291 were suspended from operating.”
The RTMC has maintained that the safety of children remains priority and law enforcement authorities will remain vigilant throughout the year to deal with non-compliant operators. However, parents also have a responsibility to ensure that the transport operators they choose are fit for purpose and licensed to transport their children safely to school.
Chief communication officer for RTMC, Simon Zwane said the responsibility of scholar transport operators extends to ensuring the safe daily travel of millions of learners between home and school.
“This necessitates holding drivers and vehicles to a high standard, with strict adherence to safety protocols and road regulations. Achieving this standard involves conducting comprehensive vehicle inspections and maintenance checks on a regular basis. Additionally, operators must ensure that drivers possess the required documents authorising them to transport learners,” said Mr Zwane.
He said regular maintenance should be scheduled for vehicles and that all necessary documents, including vehicle license discs, should up-to-date to meet compliance with legal requirements. In addition to this, said Mr Zwane, drivers must be adequately trained and certified with valid PrDP (Professional Driving Permit).
To renew licenses, drivers can log on to online.natis.gov.za where they can opt for their discs to be delivered at their doorstep, he added.
Meanwhile, the RTMC has warned members of the public about a fake traffic officer learnership recruitment circulating on various social media platforms.The RTMC is currently not recruiting any traffic officer learners for the 2024 financial year. When positions become available, the corporation will advertise its traffic officer learnership posts through reputable online platforms, which include our website, mainstream media and our social media platforms.
“As a public institution, we do not charge applicants for any employment opportunities within the organisation. Members of the public are warned not to fall prey to any scams doing rounds online,” according to the statement.
RTMC urged the public to verify the legitimacy of any recruitment drive purported to be from the RTMC by contacting their Human Capital Division on 012 999 5200. Alternatively, visit their website: www.rtmc.co.za
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