26 school children packed into one taxi

AN overloaded minibus taxi was impounded in the city on Tuesday afternoon after it was discovered to be transporting 26 school pupils.

Inspector John Eaglefield from the Msunduzi Traffic Department said a police officer was driving into Alexandra police station when he came across an overloaded Quantum taxi dropping a passenger.

“It was discovered that there were 27 people in the taxi; one driver and 26 school pupils,” he said.

The taxi is designed to carry 15 passengers.

The driver was fined R12 000 for overloading, R2 000 because he did not have the correct licence to drive a taxi (Code B rather than Code C), and a further R2 500 for not having a public driving permit (PDP).

“The vehicle was impounded and we are waiting for the owner to come for- ward.

He [the owner] will also be charged for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive the vehicle,” he said.