The Department of Transport and Public Works, through its Safely Home campaign, aims to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2014. The Department intends to achieve its goal through key projects which include, among others, increasing the number of public transport impound facilities in the Western Cape.

Since 2010, Minister Carlisle has promulgated two impound facilities:

• George Impound Facility 2011
• Overstrand Impound Facility 2012

Maitland Impound Facility 2012 will be the third one. Work is already underway on the establishment of the Cape Winelands Impound facility in Drakenstein.

It is hoped that with the increased risk of impoundment, public transport operators will ensure the validity of their licenses or permits and abide by its conditions.

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) for the impoundment of public transport vehicles are developed by the Department’s Transport Operations unit.

The process of impoundment is intended to safeguard commuters and to ensure that public transport operators stick to their designated routes.

Once the Standard Operating Procedures are implemented:

• Public transport vehicles operating without the necessary valid licence or permit and not adhering to the conditions of the operating licence will be impounded.
• Where the public transport vehicle impounded is carrying passengers it is the responsibility of the operator to provide alternative public transport options.
• A vehicle clearance check will be done to ensure that the vehicle is not stolen or otherwise sought by SAPS.
• An impounded vehicle may only be released upon proof that the criminal charges against the driver/owner have been withdrawn or the charged person has been acquitted. Where the person charged has been found guilty, the impoundment fee and any other fine imposed by the court will need to be paid before the vehicle is released.

Impoundment Fees:

Gazetted Impound Fees