RTMC investigations lead to closure of vehicle stations in Gauteng
The Road Traffic Management Corporation welcomes the cancellation of registration and permanent closure of two vehicle testing stations in Gauteng following allegations of fraud and corruption.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has issued notices of cancellation of registration for Orlando Testing Station based in Soweto and Viking Testing Station based in Devland.
The deregistration of the stations follows investigations and arrests of three motor vehicle examiners and a clerk by the RTMC’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit last year.
An examiner and a clerk from Viking testing station were arrested on allegations that they had fraudulently certified an Opel Corsa bakkie to be roadworthy whereas the vehicle was never presented for a roadworthy test and was not in a roadworthy condition to be certified as such.
Two examiners were arrested at Orlando testing station on allegations that they had used the identity numbers of innocent people as if they had presented about 54 vehicles for roadworthy tests whereas these people were not aware and did not physically present the vehicles and the vehicles were not tested.
The department found that the owners of the stations had contravened Regulation 137 (a) (b) and (c) of the National Road Traffic Act, 1996.
It also found that the station proprietors have not submitted any evidence to prove that they did not connive or permit the non-compliance of the law and are therefore “deemed to have committed the non-compliance and liable to be convicted and sentenced in terms of Regulation 137B (1) of the Act”.
The RTMC feels vindicated by the decision to cancel the registration of these stations and permanently close them down. The Corporation remains committed to ensuring that all factors that contribute to fatal crashes on South African roads are addressed and that all those engaging in activities intended to undermine the law are brought to book.
Members of the public are urged to get involved in the drive to fight bribery, fraud and corruption relating the issuing of driver’s licences and vehicle roadworthy certificates by contacting the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit 0861 400 800 on or email ntacu@rtmc.co.za.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane: Spokesperson
Cell: 082 551 9892
