article from East Coast Radio Newswatch
The KZN Transport department says it respects Friday’s court ruling which allows SA Roadlink to continue operating on the province’s roads. But, it has warned that it is keeping a close watch on luxury buses traveling through KZN, and will continue its clamp down if they are found to not be toeing the line.
SA Roadlink sought an urgent interdict on Friday, to prevent MEC Bheki Cele from going ahead with his decision to ban its buses in the province.
This past weekend, eight long-distance buses - including five SA Roadlink buses - were impounded near Pitermaritzburg for various irregularities.
The bus company has since accused the department of unfairly targeting their vehicles, but the Department of Transport’s Nonkululeko Mbatha says this is not the case.
“If you are following the news closely, it’s not only KZN in as far as SA Roadlink is concerned. It’s not mainly targeting them, we are targeting all luxury buses - all of them.
“But we keep on finding fault consistently to one company and it is SA Roadlink. In Cape Town for instance, two buses were suspended yesterday for unroadworthiness. In Johannesburg, one SA Roadlink bus was caught over speeding. So it’s not only in KZN.”
Monday, December 29, 2008
29 December 2008: Roadlink's future in the balance?
article from IOL
By Nompumelelo Magwaza
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and bus company SA Roadlink will hold a press conference on Monday to clarify the way forward in their legal battle.
The company won a high court application to overturn a ban by KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Bheki Cele on its buses operating in the province.
Two weeks ago, a Roadlink coach crashed on the southbound N2 near Hibberdene and rolled down an embankment. Eleven people died and two were admitted to hospital, including a 2-year-old child.
Meanwhile, investigations by the Department of Transport have revealed that the bus which was involved in the crash had no permit to operate in the province.
Department of Transport spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said all the buses operating in the province were given individual permits. This bus did not have one
"Our investigations have shown that the bus that was involved in an accident did not have a permit," she said.
An SA Roadlink spokesperson said he could not comment on the matter because everything would be discussed at the press conference on Monday.
By Nompumelelo Magwaza
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and bus company SA Roadlink will hold a press conference on Monday to clarify the way forward in their legal battle.
The company won a high court application to overturn a ban by KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Bheki Cele on its buses operating in the province.
Two weeks ago, a Roadlink coach crashed on the southbound N2 near Hibberdene and rolled down an embankment. Eleven people died and two were admitted to hospital, including a 2-year-old child.
Meanwhile, investigations by the Department of Transport have revealed that the bus which was involved in the crash had no permit to operate in the province.
Department of Transport spokesperson Nonkululeko Mbatha said all the buses operating in the province were given individual permits. This bus did not have one
"Our investigations have shown that the bus that was involved in an accident did not have a permit," she said.
An SA Roadlink spokesperson said he could not comment on the matter because everything would be discussed at the press conference on Monday.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
19 December 2008: Roadlink tries to overturn ban
articel from East Coast Radio Newswatch
SA Roadlink has filed an application for an urgent interdict in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to try and stop a ban imposed on it from operating in the province.
Earlier this week, Transport MEC Bheki Cele announced that the busses would not be allowed onto KZN roads as from midnight.
The unprecedented step was taken in the wake of Tuesday’s horror bus accident near Hibberdene, which left 11 people dead.
He said the ban would be in place until an investigation into the latest crash had been finalised.
SA Roadlink claimed it hadn’t been officially informed of the ban and requested a meeting with MEC which was supposed to take place today.
However, Cele says the meeting did not occur because when he arrived, he was given the court papers.
“We are waiting anxiously. If the court decides we can continue, we will definitely continue. If the court doesn’t pronounce, our decision stands and we will continue to close them down.”
SA Roadlink has filed an application for an urgent interdict in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to try and stop a ban imposed on it from operating in the province.
Earlier this week, Transport MEC Bheki Cele announced that the busses would not be allowed onto KZN roads as from midnight.
The unprecedented step was taken in the wake of Tuesday’s horror bus accident near Hibberdene, which left 11 people dead.
He said the ban would be in place until an investigation into the latest crash had been finalised.
SA Roadlink claimed it hadn’t been officially informed of the ban and requested a meeting with MEC which was supposed to take place today.
However, Cele says the meeting did not occur because when he arrived, he was given the court papers.
“We are waiting anxiously. If the court decides we can continue, we will definitely continue. If the court doesn’t pronounce, our decision stands and we will continue to close them down.”
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