We need stricter rules for people riding in the back of bakkies – Western Cape MEC

Western Cape Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer has stated that new, stricter rules need to be introduced that deal with people riding in the back of bakkies.

This is according to a report by BusinessTech.

Meyer said that currently, no law “determines the number of people to be loaded at the back of a bakkie or a truck”.

“The only way to determine whether a truck is overloaded is by weighing it at the weighbridge,” said Meyer.

“Doing so is also a challenge, as body weight differs from the goods load usually transported by heavy vehicles.”

Meyer went on to state that Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula must change regulation 247 of the national transport regulations to achieve this.

Safe transportation

“The Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, Bonginkosi Madikizela, and I agree that the safe, dignified transport of agri-workers is a priority for the Western Cape Government,” said Meyer.

“For this reason, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s Technical Committee on Rural Safety will also be considering making agri-worker worker transport a focus area of its rural safety plan.”

Additionally, Meyer said the Western Cape Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Planning supports Agri Western Cape and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s recommendation that employers arranging transport for agri-workers must ensure the following:

• No more than 50% of the licensed capacity of the vehicle or vessel is exceeded.
• All directions regarding hygienic conditions and the limitation of exposure to persons with Covid-19 are adhered to by all concerned.