Steps have been implemented to combat corruption at Gauteng vehicle testing stations, the community safety department said on Friday.
Departmental spokesperson Phumla Mthala said provincial minister Firoz Cachalia had acted swiftly on allegations of corruption in the provincial inspectorate of driving licences and vehicle testing stations, a directorate within the department of community safety.
This followed allegations that officials were fraudulently issuing roadworthy certificates at the Wynberg testing station.
Officials of the Gauteng inspectorate allegedly colluded in this corruption by accepting bribes to ignore the fraud.
Mthala said the claims were made by Arthur Webb and Samanthan Padiachy, two former employees at the Wynberg test station.
Cachalia has suspended from the inspectorate five officials implicated in the bribe allegations. He also ordered operations stopped at the licence and testing inspectorate while investigations take place.
Officials who were not incriminated have been redeployed to regional inspectorates, said Mthala.
Cachalia has asked the anti-corruption unit of the traffic directorate to investigate the Wynberg testing station.
”I have less than zero tolerance for corruption,” he said.
The provincial minister took these steps ”to demonstrate his determination to deal with corruption”.
”[Cachalia] further vowed to root out the widespread corruption in vehicle management and enhance integrity in the public service,” Mthala said.
Cachalia appealed to the public to stop paying bribes for fraudulent roadworthy certificates or to avoid paying traffic fines.
”People who give officials bribes should understand that they are assisting criminals, This problem is multidimensional, there are people who need to search their consciences,” he said. — Sapa