Children packed like sardines in 15-seater quantum

AN ALERT police officer in South Africa spotted the taximan driving recklessly and speeding while transporting schoolkids and raced to stop him.

But when he pulled him off the road, the cop was stunned to find that crammed into the 15-seater taxi, like sardines, were no less than 50 kids!

The quick-thinking cop had acted just in time to save the lives of these kids from Patensie, north of Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape.

Daily Sun reported that Warrant Officer Gerda Swart said: "The taxi driver (31) was arrested after driving recklessly on the road.

"He was first spotted at about 7.30am by Lieutenant Loaan Steenkamp, who was on his way to work.

"Steenkamp noticed the white Toyota Quantum driving recklessly and at high speed in Fred Ferreira Avenue.

"The cop also noticed that there were children in the vehicle.

"He immediately requested the driver to pull over and 50 school kids aged between six and 12 got out of the 15-seater taxi.

"The driver was arrested on the spot on charges ranging from reckless and negligent driving to overloading of a vehicle," she said.

The suspect is due to appear in the Hankey Magistrates Court today.

Humansdorp cluster commander Brigadier Neil Jantjies praised the officer for the good job.

He said: "Police will ensure that they deliver on their mandate, to make sure that the citizens of this country live in a safe and secure environment, especially our women and children."