DEAR Editor:
My husband was stopped by two Umkomaas Saps officers on the N2 freeway near Ultra City recently.
They checked the licence disc on our 25-year-old vehicle and told my husband that the disc was invalid and therefore they were going to confiscate the vehicle.
ALSO READ : What you need to renew your car’s licence disc at the post office
At first he thought that he was being “Schuksed” by Leon Schuster but after an ongoing intimidating, officious attitude, he realised the officers were serious.
He was in shock and firmly refused to surrender his vehicle.
All this intimidation was because the disc – issued by the relevant licensing authority – did not display the number of people the vehicle is permitted to carry.
My husband uses our vehicle as a workshop and not a public conveyance!
The licensing officials said that it was not their mistake and to rectify the error, we would have to put the vehicle through roadworthy and re-registration.
After a R5 000 unexpected expenditure for two pensioners and three weeks of lost work opportunities while sorting out a parking light and a dirty undercarriage, we managed to get our vehicle back on the road.
The officers told my husband that if they caught him using the vehicle without a valid licence disc again, they would IMMEDIATELY confiscate it.
DAPHNE NASLUND
** When the Mid South Coast Mail approached the police for comment, Umkomaas Saps communications officer, Captain Ismail Shaik responded, saying, ” It is the responsibility of the police to do such vehicle checks on a regular basis to prevent any accidents on the roads which could result in death or serious injuries. Therefore a check was done on this vehicle in particular.
“We kindly ask that the complainant contact the Umkomaas Saps or a senior officer because we are willing to interview the complainant in order to find a solution to the problem and will try our best to ensure that the complainant is satisfied with the outcome.”
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