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Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
South Africa’s Department of Traffic and Community Safety has launched a crackdown on overloaded vehicles, among them small cross border transporters commonly known as omalayitsha.
Omalayitsha mostly transport goods for Zimbabweans and Malawians based in South Africa.
In a statement, the department’s spokesperson Ms Tidimalo Chuene said overloaded vehicles are a major threat to road safety.
Since the beginning of December, they have screened 1449 vehicles and charged them for overloading.
As part of the crackdown, overloaded vehicles are directed to adjust and offload before proceeding with their journeys.
“We are specifically targeting overloaded public transport vehicles and light delivery vehicles towing heavily loaded trailers, commonly known as omalayitsha.
“These vehicles are mostly found on the N1 road stretching from Peinaarsreievr in the Waterberg District to Beitbridge Border Post in Musina,” said Ms Chuene
“Overloaded vehicles are a major threat to road safety. They are more likely to have tyre bursts and brake failures, which can cause serious accidents. Overloading also affects the vehicle’s stability, handling and stopping power, thereby putting drivers , passengers and other road users at risk.”
She said the department is operating seven traffic control centres strategically located across Limpopo Province to monitor and screen vehicle loads.
These centres are in Mantsole, Zebediela, and Groblersburg in the Westerburg district; Polokwane in Capricorn district, Musina at Beitbridge, Mooketsi in Mopani District and Rathoke in Sekhukhune District.
Online Reporter