Limpopo: Four officials have been arrested at a vehicle testing station in Musina, Limpopo, on allegations that they fraudulently issued roadworthy certificates for vehicles that they never physically tested.

The arrests followed months of investigation by members of the Hawks, the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the Special Investigating Unit.

The four, comprising of three vehicle examiners and one cashier, were arrested at Thusalushaka Testing Station and will be facing charges of fraud and corruption.

It is alleged that the officials colluded in using the identity particulars of a 60-year-old man to generate roadworthy certificates for scores of vehicles that were never brought to the testing station for examination. Investigations however showed that the man was not even aware that his particulars were being used in this manner in court today. A similar raid was conducted at the same testing station in December last year where two officials were arrested. They were released on bail and are expected to make another court appearance on 29 April 2019.

Vehicle roadworthiness is one of the major contributors to road crashes and fatalities in South Africa. The raid would assist in reducing this threat in the forthcoming Easter period.

Source: South African Police Service