A green Toyota Venture driving slowly in the emergency lane on Leondale Road attracted the attention of Metro Police officers recently.<\/p>\n
The EMPD officers from the Katlehong district were doing peak hour patrols in the area last Monday morning at about 7am.<\/p>
When they stopped the vehicle, they were appalled at the extremely poor condition of the vehicle.<\/p>\n
The wrecked Toyota Venture had defective brakes, broken passenger windows and door handles, worn-out tyres, faulty steering mechanism and all the lights not working.<\/p>
An additional loose make-shift chair used as a car seat was found in the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Officers found that the “school bus” had 21 children inside, a number that exceeds the permitted number of passengers the vehicle should carry.<\/p>\n
The children were between four and ten years of age.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, officers also discovered that the 25-year-old driver did not possess a valid drivers’ licence or a professional driving permit (PDP) as required by law.<\/p>\n
The vehicle was discontinued by the officers and the driver was instructed to summon a breakdown vehicle to tow the battered Venture to a place for repairs.<\/p>\n
The driver was issued with a fine of R300 for driving in the emergency lane and R2 000 for driving without a valid driver’s licence.<\/p>\n
“Parents and teachers are urged to ensure that children are transported in roadworthy and suitable vehicles,” said EMPD spokesman Wilfred Kgasago.<\/p>\n
“Vehicles found to be unsafe to transport children must be reported to the authorities promptly.”<\/p>\n