“Roadlink wants to see us,” said Max, of the company that had complained that at least 200 of its buses, which it said complied with legal requirements, were pulled off the road during the December holidays.
Roadlink said this was unfair and had caused chaos for travellers left stranded while the buses were taken for roadworthy checks. However, the company had also had to suspend a driver who was being prosecuted for allegedly driving his bus over the legal alcohol limit and it has had to defend a number of accidents with multiple deaths.
A traffic official in George, speaking on condition of anonymity, said six buses from various companies were taken off the road on Monday during impromptu roadworthy checks. Problems detected included faulty brakes, oil leaks, poor suspension and cracked windscreens.
The buses were only released once the problem was repaired and the bus had passed another check. Max said it was untrue that they were singling out SA Roadlink. He said they planned to meet other bus operators, and vowed to continue with the crackdown.
“My [motive] is law enforcement. I will continue with what I’m busy doing,” he told Sapa.
The meeting at 11am would also be attended by transport MEC Robin Carlisle.
A later media briefing would outline how the departments intend proceeding after they had received legal advice on the possible banning of non-compliant companies.
“Legal information has come through. There are plans we intend to set in place, but we just need to announce them,” said Carlisle’s spokesman Nick Clelland-Stokes.
“All steps that we have taken will be essentially about the bus public transport sector. There is absolutely no question about a particular company at all.
“But when certain companies become multiple transgressors we are going to do something about them.”
[SAPA]