Truck owners warned

2003-10-16 22:39

Johannesburg - The Gauteng MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works, Khabisi Mosunkutu on Thursday warned that the authorities were planning to crack down on truck owners whose vehicles were not in good order.

"Shortly after being informed of the horrific accident that wiped out the lives of 14 road users in Potgieter Street in Tshwane on October 5, MEC Mosunkutu ordered an investigation," said his spokesperson Sizwe Matshikiza. "The investigation has shown that the vehicle belongs to the giant OK company in Alberton and that the company owns 100 other trucks."

Matshikiza said the company would now have to have all their trucks put through stringent testing to ensure their roadworthiness. In addition the MEC instructed his department to look into the possibility of imposing stricter fines on owners who fail to meet the minimum standards of safety.

"Such measures are aimed at making it absolutely unattractive for vehicle owners in particular, to unleash on our roads vehicles that are essentially death traps," said Matshikiza.

"Reluctance to maintain roadworthy vehicles by some, especially in the trucking industry can be gleaned from the fact that over 8 000 cases have been brought against different truckers in eight days after the installation of a compulsory truck stop on the Ben Schoeman freeway, a short distance from Tshwane."

- SAPA