Pretoria - A private vehicle examiner and the owner of a vehicle licensing company in Johannesburg have been arrested for issuing a fraudulent vehicle roadworthy certificate.
It is alleged that the two colluded to have a roadworthy certificate issued for a vehicle without physically examining the car and testing it as required.
The National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU) launched an investigation following a complaint that a private examiner at Motorcity vehicle testing station in Langlaagte had certified a bakkie as roadworthy, while it was parked at another place.
“The examiner had allegedly been approached by the owner of a business trading as Gauteng Registration and Licence Bureau for a roadworthy certificate on the vehicle. Gauteng Registration and Licence Bureau operates as a business that assist public to obtain vehicle registration and licenses.
“It has been alleged that the vehicle concerned had defects and had failed a roadworthiness test at another testing station. Members of the anti-corruption unit have obtained evidence that showed that the vehicle was not presented to the examiner for evaluation before its roadworthiness certificate was issued,” said Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane.
The two suspects are expected to appear in court on Thursday on charges of fraud.
This is the second arrest made in a month in connection with fraud and corruption within the private vehicle testing centres. The first arrest was made in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, where a private vehicle examiner was caught after issuing a roadworthy certificate for a vehicle that was not physically taken to the station for testing.
Members of the public, who may have information on fraud and corruption within vehicle testing stations, are urged to provide the information to 0861 400 800. – SAnews.gov.za
