‘Unsafe’ buses back on the road as senior Sol Plaatje official faces criminal probe

A CASE of defeating the ends of justice is being investigated against a senior Sol Plaatje Municipality official after subsidised public transport buses that had failed roadworthy tests were reportedly certified in Limpopo and released back onto the roads.

The vehicles, which transport passengers between Ritchie and Kimberley, were impounded during June and August.

It is believed that some of the defects included non-functioning odometers, while wobbly wheel-bearing axles were causing the vehicles to squeak. Fines were also issued for speeding, overcrowding and licensing irregularities.

One of the buses is still being stored at a local towing service, where it is undergoing repairs.

Ritchie Public Transport Forum secretary Shadrac Metsimetsi indicated that the four buses currently operating between Ritchie and Kimberley were still overcrowded.

“Lives are being placed at risk when unroadworthy vehicles are allowed to transport passengers. There should be eight vehicles on this route according to the subsidy allocation,” he said.

Roads were closed in Ritchie during protest action after several buses were taken off the roads due to safety concerns in August, while passengers also described the vehicles as being “death traps”.

‘Threats and intimidation’ 

It is alleged that the senior Sol Plaatje official pressured and intimidated the acting traffic chief, Glen Lang, into releasing the impounded buses, threatening that he would be removed from his position.

This was despite inspectors at the Kimberley traffic yard not having cleared the vehicles.

Lang reportedly refused to compromise the safety of commuters or be held liable in the event of any injuries or fatalities if the vehicles were involved in crashes in the Sol Plaatje municipal district.

Shortly after he refused to carry out the alleged instructions of the senior manager, roadworthy certificates were reportedly issued in Limpopo, although the vehicles never left the municipal pound in Kimberley.

It is alleged that the same cashier and municipal officials were instrumental in issuing the roadworthy certificates.

Despite the matter apparently being brought to the attention of municipal authorities, provincial traffic and the MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, no decisive steps were reportedly taken.

The implicated Sol Plaatje municipal official denied any knowledge of any vehicles being awarded roadworthy certificates in Limpopo. He claimed that he was the individual responsible for ensuring that the “unsafe” vehicles did not return to the roads.

“The bus owner was desperate to have his vehicles back,” he added.

SAPS confirms criminal charges 

SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane confirmed that they were investigating a case of defeating the ends of justice against a Kimberley municipal official.

“It is alleged that on August 15, a traffic official was conducting official duties on a public road when he reportedly stopped buses belonging to a private company operating between Kimberley, Modderrivier and Ritchie. It was discovered that the buses were allegedly not roadworthy, resulting in the impounding of three buses,” he said.

He added that two of the buses were reportedly later released to the owner.

“The investigation is continuing,” Pilane said.

The spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, Rennie Andrias, indicated that they would request a comprehensive report from Sol Plaatje Municipality.

“The Provincial Monitoring unit in our Transport Regulations directorate conducts regular oversight visits to vehicle testing stations in the province to ensure that they comply with the law. We always encourage examiners to conduct themselves with integrity.

“We cannot afford, at any stage, for unroadworthy vehicles to be driven on the streets of the Northern Cape,” he said.

Sol Plaatje Municipality did not respond to media enquiries.