While Minister Barbara Creecy has instructed the SIU to investigate OUTA’s report, we decided to release it to push for accountability and road safety reforms. 

OUTA recently shared an investigative report on fraudulent roadworthy certificates, exposing corruption at vehicle testing stations (VTSs) with the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy. The report reveals that vehicles failing inspections in Gauteng were mysteriously issued roadworthy certificates in Limpopo and North West, sometimes within just 30 minutes.  

Corruption that covers up problems with vehicle roadworthiness endangers millions of South African road users, and we cannot let this go unchallenged. 

In response to our report, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy directed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate corruption at VTSs. The probe will cover the National and Provincial Departments of Transport, local authorities, and entities enforcing roadworthiness regulations under Proclamation 191 of 2024.

OUTA also shared its findings with the SAPS, and the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit for further investigation and potential criminal prosecution, and we welcome the Minister’s instructions to the SIU. 

We have chosen to release the report publicly following several media requests. We believe this is in the interest of transparency, and that South Africans have a right to know the extent of corruption affecting road safety. With South Africa ranked as the most dangerous country for drivers in the 2025 World’s Safest Roads report, OUTA argues that government accountability is key to tackling the crisis.

By publishing the report, OUTA also aims to increase public pressure for urgent reforms. The organisation insists that both corrupt officials and vehicle owners who obtain fraudulent certificates must be held accountable to prevent further road deaths.

Read our full press release here.