Licence fraud claims denied

2003-04-08 23:30

Rajaa Azzakani

Johannesburg - The transport department acted swiftly on Tuesday to quash rumours that the new credit card driver's licences could be tampered with following media reports that more than half issued since 1998 were acquired fraudulently.

Transport official Lisa Mangcu said the news release distributed in parliament on Monday was not watertight.

"The statement did not clearly specify what the minister meant. The investigation was launched in 1998 and covered licences issued between 1994 and 1998."

Mangcu said the figure was obtained from an informal study after a probe by a special investigative unit into trafficking in driver's licences and ID documents.

"The investigation has already led to the cancellation of 10 000 driver's licences in Limpopo. The investigation is continuing and if we find that people have obtained their licences unlawfully, they will be cancelled."

He said the fact that people must renew their licences every five years will help eliminate irregularities.

"Offenders will be caught sooner or later. We surely can't be expected to do it all at once."

Mangcu said it was not always possible to establish if someone had paid a corrupt official for a licence. The person's documents would be in order because procedures would have been followed.

But it was impossible to forge the card itself, he added. "It can't be tampered with."

- Beeld