Zuko Komisa
- Limpopo traffic officers intercepted a severely overloaded bus carrying 104 passengers instead of its legal limit of 60.
- The vehicle, travelling from Johannesburg to Malawi, was stopped on the N1 North near Botlokwa during a routine road safety operation.
- Authorities discovered 34 invalid passports, impounded the bus, and arranged alternative transport to transfer the excess passengers to the Beitbridge Border Post.
Limpopo traffic officers have intercepted an overloaded bus on the N1 North near the Botlokwa Capricorn Plaza.
The vehicle, which was travelling from Johannesburg to Malawi, was stopped on Thursday during a routine road safety operation conducted by the provincial Department of Transport and Community Safety.
The bus was found to be carrying 44 more passengers than permitted, whilst also towing a heavily laden trailer.
The occupants included 62 men, 25 women, and 17 children over the age of five.
During the inspection, officials recovered 34 passports. Working alongside Department of Home Affairs immigration officers, authorities confirmed that every single one of the documents was invalid.
“The department strongly urges motorists and public transport operators to refrain from overloading vehicles, as this poses a serious danger to the safety of passengers and other road users,” said department spokesperson Mashudu Mabata.
The bus was subsequently escorted to the Mampakuil Weighbridge for impoundment, and the SAPS K9 Unit was called to search the trailer.
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