Polokwane - Ten driving licence testing stations in Limpopo are under investigation for issuing fraudulent driver's licences.
Provincial Roads and Transport Department spokesperson Thesan Moodley confirmed on Thursday that the department was working with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) on the matter.
"The investigations commenced in 2007 and recommendations of the investigation revealed things such as calculation errors, no eye-testing conducted, road test time less than required (and) yard test time less than required," said Moodley.
He said the investigation also uncovered a number of administrative errors, including application forms not being fully completed. K53 procedures were also not adhered to in that test reports were signed by examiners who did not conduct the tests.
"The department has implemented all the recommendations from the SIU and 1 183 driving licences were cancelled and 61 examiners were suspended from the eNATiS system," he said.
He said the affected driving licence testing stations were in Sekgosese, Marble Hall, Lephalale, Mokopane, Tzaneen, Blouberg, Phalaborwa, Louis Trichardt, Polokwane and Bochum.
"The department is currently utilising the anti-fraud and corruption unit and the South African Police Service to investigate corrupt practices in driving licence testing stations. Currently, we are investigating two such cases," said Moodley.
He said the department had also deployed computerised learner licence testing systems to 15 driving licence testing centres as a way to prevent corruption.
Department MEC Pinky Kekana has ordered that the computerised learner licence testing systems be rolled out to the remaining 17 testing centres in the 2012/13 financial year.
"The department has assisted driving school operators to develop their own structures in order to better manage their operations.
"The high number of cancellations of driving licences and suspension of examiners provides tangible proof that Limpopo is taking the lead in efforts to clear the fraud rot which exists in testing centres throughout the country," said Kekana.
She said the National Road Traffic Act does not cater for operations of driving schools, which makes it difficult for the department to manage illegal operations on behalf of driving schools.
"However, nationally, there is a draft Bill which will compel driving schools to register with the department," Kekana said. - BuaNews
