Licence fraudsters take a knock

2003-04-03 09:21

Elaine Anderson

Durban - The department of transport is clamping down on learner's and driver's licence fraud after a 40-year-old woman was jailed for three years this week for her involvement in issuing fraudulent learner's licences.

Noreen Desirée de Gee, an employee of the Windsor Park road traffic inspectorate in Durban, pleaded guilty in Durban regional court to 15 counts of fraud.

The department's Thabang Chiloane said that, according to the charge sheet, De Gee gave those sitting for the exam question books with the answers, or she would fill the answers in for the people.

He said she acted in cahoots with driving-school owners and instructors and was paid between R250 and R450 for this.

Chiloane said that in January two applicants, who made a sworn affidavits that they were illiterate, were tested for the oral learner's test at Ixopo municipality.

It was later found both applicants had matriculated and one was a head of department at a school in the area.

Both were members of the immediate family of one of the municipality's learner's licence examiners.

Plans to beat corruption

Chiloane said a case of fraud is being investigated by the police.

He said that in July 2002, the department cancelled 174 driving licences issued by the Ixopo municipality after it was found the licences had been issued fraudulently.

The department's deputy director of communications, Logan Maistry, said they had put in measures to beat fraud and corruption as well as administration at driving-test stations in KwaZulu-Natal.

"This was as a result of fraudulent activities at driver's licence test stations recently.

"Also, the department is continually receiving information about corrupt practices."

Maistry said all stand-by exams would stop immediately, there would be improved supervision, and inspections would be beefed up to combat fraud, corruption and negligence.

"We will ensure invigilators of examinations must be supervised in such a way that collusion with applicants is not permitted," he said.

"Wherever possible, closed-circuit television will be fitted into examination rooms and will be monitored."

Maistry also said oral examinations had been abused and that the department had warned all driving-licence test-centre managers to be careful how oral tests were conducted.

- The Witness