Cop's false plates - 3 separate probes
2011-09-13 21:14
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Pretoria - Tshwane's deputy metro police chief Ndumiso Jaca faces investigations by three organisations over claims that he used false number plates.
They are the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) and the municipality.
RTMC spokesperson for enforcement and co-ordination Ashref Ismail said on Tuesday that it would give more details later.
ICD spokesperson Tiyani Sambo said it had received a complaint about the number plates and would investigate.
Tshwane metro spokesperson Pieter de Necker earlier said the municipality was aware of the claims and was investigating.
The allegations surfaced last week.
On Tuesday, the Pretoria News published photographs of a yellow motorcycle and a black BMW Z4, both of which had the number plate BALTY GP.
According to the report, the car and motorcycle belonged to Jaca, who was also acting metro police chief.
De Necker said Jaca had been given time to respond to the allegations, and that the municipality's investigations were not criminal in nature.
According to the National Road Traffic Act of 1996, displaying false number plates is punishable by a fine or jail term of up to three years.
Section 68 of the Act reads that no one can "falsify or counterfeit or, with intent to deceive, replace, alter, deface or mutilate or add anything to a registration number or a registration mark...".
The legislation also states that "in the absence of evidence to the contrary" it would be presumed the accused person knew his vehicle had false number plates.
Automobile Association spokesperson Gary Ronald said he would have expected Jaca to have appeared before a magistrate.
"These allegations are not a case of paying an admission of guilt fine. If it's true, then it's up there with reckless and drunk driving. This is serious."
In KwaZulu-Natal, someone caught with false number plates would have their vehicle impounded and would be locked up until they had appeared before a magistrate, before possibly being released on bail.
"One would expect them [Jaca] to set the standard, the bar for other people to follow," he said.
- SAPA
