Call to increase overloading fines

Overloading remains a
major problem on South
African highways, with
too many road hauliers not
obeying the law.
According to Mutshutshu
Nxumalo, president of
the South African Road
Federation, it is an issue
that needs to be addressed
sooner rather than later.
“One of our biggest
challenges is overloading.
The road network cannot
handle it for much longer,”
he told FTW.
“A problem, of course,
is that the fines for
overloading are minuscule
and not really a deterrent to
hauliers to stop doing it. We
need to seriously address
the issue. It is pointless
fining someone R1000 when
they have caused damage of
millions of rands.”
According to Nxumalo
it is important to increase
the fines for overloading.
“The hauliers guilty of
overloading are doing it
again and again and again
just because they can. They
pay the fine, which is not
really hurting their pocket
because it is such a low
penalty, and just continue.
In the meantime the road
network is taking serious
strain.”
He said many people
in South Africa didn’t
appreciate the road
infrastructure of the country
and even the impact of road
freight on the economy. “If
our trucks can no longer
move on our highways
because there is no
infrastructure, we are going
to be in a terrible position.
We are therefore focusing
on asset management
and bringing the critical
message to people that our
roads are assets and should
be appreciated, maintained
and treated as such.”