Vehicle testing in South Africa is a function performed by municipal and provincial test stations as well as private test stations. In recent years, there were several media reports on vehicle testing stations that were closed and owners and/ or employees that were arrested on charges of fraudulently issuing roadworthy certificates for vehicles that were not presented for testing.

OUTA received information from a whistleblower that roadworthy certificates were issued by several vehicle testing stations in contravention of the Road Traffic Management Act in that roadworthy certificates were issued without the vehicle being physically inspected.

Further investigations revealed that several of these vehicle testing stations identified belonged to the same individual or a family member of the individual. It appears that a network of individuals was involved with the alleged fraudulent issuing of roadworthy certificates and that public officials were among the owners of some of these testing stations.

OUTA prepared a detailed report on all the findings supported by physical evidence of illegally issued roadworthy certificates where no physical inspection was done on the vehicles. The report was shared with, inter alia, the Minister of Transport who instructed the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into vehicle testing stations across the country. 

Read the full report here and the media release here.