15 Oct 2014

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has warned public transport owners that in the near future, they will be charged together with their drivers for over speeding offences committed by their buses.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Chadibe recently, the minister said it had come to his attention that some public transport operators had their buses converted to high speed at the time they purchase them from dealers.  

He noted that drivers were charged only for over speeding, but explained that they had since realised that they had to send stern messages by charging bus owners as well as suspending their public transport permits. 

In addition, Mr Molefhi lamented that the public was to be blamed because when drivers violated the law, they did not report such transgressions.  He stated that the only time passengers raised concerns was when something bad had happened. 

He also added that some members of the public hada tendency of refusing to use certain buses with claims that they travelled at a lower speed. He urged the public to understand their consumer rights very well, noting that they should not be afraid to report bad driving if they are not confortable because others might be supportive of such driving.

He further noted that as a ministry governing public transport, they are working on intensifying their regulations so that all operators comply and make public transport safe and secure. 

This, the minister highlighted, can encourage people to use public transport and reduce congestion on the roads which is caused by increased use of private vehicles.

The Minister was responding to a concern raised by residents that public transport operators in their village were violating their permits regulations and were refusing to take passengers towards areas where the village was expanding to and instead preferred to drop them off at the kgotla.

Meanwhile, the village development committee chairman, Mr Bakani Thembe explained that when the railway line to Sowa was constructed, the company left many open pits which they harvested soil from. However, he noted that these pits have turned out to be hazardous to children particularly during the rainy season. 

Mr Thembe asked for assistance to have such pits covered and also requested culverts which could assist in the village drainage system.

In his response, Mr Molefhi said they will liaise with councils and land boards regarding the open pits to see how best they can be dealt with and even engage Botswana Railways to address the issue. ENDS