A new transport bill promises to tackle licensing corruption aggressively, but in the meantime, the road traffic environment continues to be dogged by fraud and corruption.

This was revealed by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Monday.

He was speaking during a presentation of interim findings of a special investigation unit (SIU) and the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC).

The unit was mandated by President Cyril Ramaphosa to investigate the registration of motor vehicles; testing for and issuing of roadworthy certificates; driving licences; learner’s licences; professional driving permits as well as the conversion of foreign licences.

Thanks to the unit, 380 363 fraudulent driving licences will be now cancelled on the electronic national traffic information system (e-Natis), 190 173 of them apparently having been issued to deceased people.

The new bill – called the national Road Traffic Amendment Bill – was passed on September 27, he revealed.

It will address several areas covered in the SIU’s investigation such as regulating driving schools.

In addition to dealing with fraud and corruption, it will also mean increased penalties for those who fail to comply with traffic rules and prohibiting alcohol consumption by drivers.

A new national number plate legislation was proposed, as well as streamlining the transport minister and his provincial counterparts’ powers.

On 27 September 2022, the National Assembly passed the National Road Traffic Amendment Bill, which addresses a number of areas covered by the SIU investigation, which includes regulation of driving schools. pic.twitter.com/nhzeytZFOR

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) October 24, 2022

• One hundred and ninety thousand one hundred and ninety (190 190) driving licences have been referred to relevant MECs for cancellation.
• One hundred and ninety thousand one hundred and seventy three (190 173) driving licences issued to persons who have since perished pic.twitter.com/0OYFAoDKsI

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) October 24, 2022

Further investigations will look into the tampering with information entered into e-Natis.

Investigations have already resulted in numerous police officers and government officials being arrested.

As part of an effort to clean up the system, 44 criminal cases had been referred to the NPA for prosecution.

“In total, 128 cases have been referred to various authorities for disciplinary action, while 86 arrests have been made for fraud and theft.”

A total of 36 vehicle testing examiners, 10 e-Natis officers, 26 licensing centre officials, three police officers, four provincial transport department inspectors and seven civilians were arrested.

“In July, six officials were arrested for 10 000 illicit transactions, which cost the state a combined loss of R60m.”

Through the work of the SIU, the following were achieved:

Through the work of the SIU, following were achieved:
 
• The actual value of cash recovered through the seizure of illegally imported vehicles during joint operations with the RTMC, Hawks, SARS and SIU, in respect of 375 vehicle recovered in Eastern Cape stands at R52 798 708. pic.twitter.com/JDT8SFbmsD

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) October 24, 2022

Mbalula said the bill provides them with more tools to aggressively tackle the corruption that bedevils the vehicle and driver licensing system.

He said the bill would allow them to take a closer look at driving schools’ conduct.

“Uniform standards will apply to all driving schools. This will enable the inspector of driving schools, who the bill establishes, to hold these schools accountable to the set standards,” said Mbalula.