Cop in the clear over number plate
2011-09-30 09:26
Pretoria - The Tshwane municipality has found
"no prima facie evidence" that the metro police's deputy chief
breached the city's code of conduct by allegedly using the same number plate
for his motorbike and car.
However, Ndumiso Jaca still faces criminal
charges and an investigation by the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD)
and the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
In a statement on Thursday, municipal spokesperson
Pieter de Necker said Tshwane city manager Jason Ngobeni had submitted a report
on the investigation.
"According to the report, there is no
prima facie evidence of any contravention of any of the City of Tshwane's
policies and/or code of conduct applicable to officials. Therefore, the report
suggests that suspension is not sanctioned," he said.
Neither the report nor Jaca's explanation
would be made public, said De Necker.
The decision to keep Jaca's explanation under
wraps was made by Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
Earlier this month, Eyewitness News reported
that Jaca was allegedly using the same number plate on both his Harley-Davidson
motorcycle and his BMW Z4.
Photographs of both vehicles were published
in the Pretoria News.
The Justice Project SA laid criminal charges
against Jaca - who is reportedly in the running to become the next Tshwane
metro police chief - at the Alberton police station two weeks ago in terms of
Section 68 of the National Road Traffic Act 1996.
"The docket with the reference CAS
413/9/2011 was registered and is expected to be forwarded to [the Pretoria
police station]," JPSA spokesperson Howard Dembovsky said in a statement
last week.
On Thursday, ICD spokesperson Moses Dlamini
confirmed that the ICD was also investigating the allegations
Displaying false number plates is punishable
by a fine or jail term of up to three years.
Eyewitness News reported that the BMW which
was bought in 2008 for R80 000 from Salvage Management and Disposal, was
written off in March that year.
Dembovsky said the motorbike was registered
in the name of the president of the Sopranos Biker Club, Moraka Ephraim Mokoka.
He said the BMW Z4 coupe was found to be
unroadworthy and was de-registered, but alleged that Jaca later put the car
though a roadworthy test at the Randburg licensing station in Johannesburg.
Dembovsky said the car was now registered as
a built-up (code three) vehicle, after being licensed at the Mabopane licensing
department in Pretoria.
"It would appear that Mr Jaca is under
the impression that by now having registered the vehicle and his previously
false number plate, all will be forgiven and he will no longer be deemed as to
have committed a crime," he said at the time.
- SAPA
