80 KZN drivers blacklisted as drivers’ licence fraud operation is uncovered

A months-long investigation into fraud and corruption, carried out by the KZN Department of Transport, has uncovered a learners’ and drivers’ licensing syndicate operating in the province.

Eighty drivers have been blacklisted on the National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) after they were tracked and traced as part of the department’s internal investigation.

The department says the syndicate has been operating at most driver licence testing centres across the province and mainly involves defrauding the process of learners’ and drivers’ licences.

According to the department, ‘jockeys’ charge a fee to impersonate the applicant in order to write the learner’s test for the applicant, using his/her details.

These applicants were then issued with learners licences illegally.

Three ‘jockeys’ who live in Hammarsdale were recently arrested as part of the department’s clampdown of fraud and corruption, while one learner’s licence recipient from Camperdown was arrested while attempting to register a new vehicle.

KZN MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli, has lauded the uncovering of the syndicate and the subsequent arrests.

“The uncovering of such an elaborate syndicate is a milestone in our endeavour of fighting fraud and corruption” he said.

“This is a clear indication that we do not tolerate any form of corrupt activity and we will continue to fight it within our ranks and externally.

“We are joining hands with other agencies, including the Hawks, in following closely some of the cases involving bribery, fraud and corruption.

“Having been awarded a licence without going through the proper channels undermines our efforts of having accident-free roads and reducing fatalities on our roads,” said Ntuli.

He commended the sterling job done by the officers involved and said the department would continue to pay close attention to the driver licence testing centres as it strives to make serious interventions in curbing the fraudulent issuing of learners’ and drivers’ licences.

According to the Department of Transport, undocumented drivers are a major contributing factor to the province’s road fatalities.