Cape Town traffic officials discovered 25 schoolchildren crammed into a Toyota Cressida station-wagon when they stopped it in a routine check this week, the city's traffic services division said on Thursday.

Spokesperson Merle Lourens said the vehicle was stopped on Spine Road, Khayelitsha, on Monday.

"Twenty-five school children were found squashed inside," she said.

She said the driver was charged for overloading the vehicle by ten passengers, and for not having a driver's license.

Fines were also issued because the car was neither licensed nor roadworthy, and it was suspended from use on a public road.

This meant the owner had to take it for an obligatory roadworthy test.