S. Africa driver fined for overloading school bus: report

South African police arrested and fined a bus driver who crammed 55 children into a 15-seat mini-bus in North West Province, the SAPA news agency reported Wednesday.

The 53-year-old man, who was driving the children home from school, was fined 2,500 rand (250 euro, $340), roughly equivalent to one month’s salary.

The children, between seven and 10 years old, were taken home by police.

South Africa’s roads are among the world’s deadliest, with some 13,000 people killed per year in road accidents. Mini-buses drivers are often blamed for reckless driving and for not properly maintaining their vehicles.

In August, 14 children were killed when their school bus veered off the road and plunged into a river near Knysna in the south of the country.