Metro cop charged over fake plates

2011-09-19 14:14

Pretoria - Criminal charges have been laid against Tshwane deputy metro police chief Ndumisa Jaca after claims that he used false number plates.

The Justice Project SA (JPSA) said it laid the charges at the Alberton police station last Friday 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 on Monday.

This will be the fourth investigation into the matter since the allegations against Jaca surfaced last Tuesday.

The Independent Complaint Directorate, the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the City of Tshwane were also looking into the matter.

Dembovsky said no criminal charges had been laid against Jaca until now, adding it was clear that none would have been forthcoming if it were not for the JPSA.

Cronyism

"There is clear cronyism being practised in this matter. The charges were not a simple traffic fine issue as some seem to believe. They are of similar severity as drunk driving and fraud."

Displaying false number plates is punishable by a fine or jail term of up to three years.

Last week, the Pretoria News published photographs of a yellow Harley Davidson 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 police chief.

Eyewitness News, which investigated the numberplate saga, has reported the BMW was written off in March 2008. It said that Jaca bought the car from Salvage Management and Disposal for R80 000 during the same 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 deregistered as of last week Monday.

However, Jaca later put the car though a roadworthy test at the Randburg licensing station in Johannesburg.

Dombovsky said the car was now registered as a built-up (code 3) vehicle, after it was licensed at 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.

- SAPA