Illegally imported cars nabbed in NW

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Pretoria - Through Operation Enough is Enough the North West Public Safety Traffic authorities have impounded 60 vehicles found to have been illegally imported into South Africa from neighbouring countries.

The joint operation by the Provincial Public Safety traffic officials and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Custom Unit found that the vehicles, mostly from Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland were allegedly imported without payment of levies, custom duties and Valued Added Tax (Vat).

Motorists whose vehicles were impounded were fined R1 500 and given seven days to export the vehicles back to their countries of origin. Failure to do so will result in the vehicles being seized by SARS Custom Unit and either auctioned and or crashed.

MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa said the special operation to clamp down on illegal importing of vehicles will be extended throughout the province to protect the local economy - particularly the motor industry - and curb illegal transportation of passengers and goods.

He warned locals against buying and illegally importing vehicles that do not meet the safety standards of the South African Bureau of Standards as they risk losing their savings through such illegal transactions.

The North West province recently experienced a proliferation of illegally imported vehicles and their use in illegal transportation of passengers and goods hence it embarked on Operation Enough is Enough.