KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Willies Mchunu has again commended law enforcers on successfully apprehending six more people (driving school owners) for fraud and corruption at Mandeni Driving Licence Testing Centre today, 23 February 2011, making a total number of 20 in custody.
Preliminary reports have revealed that the driving schools were in co-hoots with Driving Licence Testing Centre officials and examiners in that they were using the services of so called “jockeys”. It alleged that these jockeys were undergoing the actual tests on behalf of the applicants who in most cases did not even have to show up at the Driving Licence Testing Centre. In some instances the applicant/jockey failed the yard test in principle yet were still allowed to continue with the road test and ultimately issued driving licences fraudulently.
On Friday, 18 February 2011, 10 people were arrested including the Head of the Driving Licence Testing Centre and on Sunday, 20 February 2011, through intensive follow up investigation, two officers were arrested, one being an examiner and the other being an administration clerk. And on Monday (21 February 2011), two further driving school operators/owners were arrested. Today, 23 February 2011, a further six driving schools owners were arrested making a total number of twenty with charges ranging from racketeering, fraud and corruption. The accused have been held in custody until the 3 March to obtain legal presentation and bail.
“Our law enforcers are very clear in sending a message that they will not sleep until law breakers are behind bars. This is the reason why they have arrested 20 perpetrators in less than a week. This is a stern warning to all government officials or anybody else who involve themselves in such activities, that we will leave no stone unturned in such matters. Fraud and corruption will not be tolerated at any stage! said Mchunu.
Enquiries:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell:072 803 1462
