JHB driver to sue over cloned plates

454 24.07.2014 Mabena Motshoane(not in photo) with the Range Rover reflecting the number plates registesred in the family name. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

454 24.07.2014 Mabena Motshoane(not in photo) with the Range Rover reflecting the number plates registesred in the family name. Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng

Published Nov 18, 2014

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Johannesburg - An angry and frustrated driver who has R45 000 in traffic fines for a vehicle that has been off the road for two years is planning to take legal action.

Mabena Motshoane’s Range Rover has been parked in a workshop for two years, awaiting spares from overseas.

But suddenly he started getting fines and realised somebody had cloned his number plates. He eventually found that the cloned plates were on a vehicle used by Telkom chief executive Sipho Maseko.

After months of failing to resolve the problem, Motshoane decided to initiate a civil action to force the Johannesburg Metro Police Department to remove the traffic fines from his name and to take action against Maseko and Johannesburg city manager Trevor Fowler over the cloning.

At the same time, a criminal investigation is proceeding.

Motshoane has also handed the matter over to the public protector’s office, which has confirmed that an investigation is under way.

This week, the City of Johannesburg did not reply to a request for comment from The Star.

Telkom managing executive of group communications Jacqui O’Sullivan said Maseko had not received any communication or information on the matter since we last spoke to him.

“It’s therefore difficult to comment,” she said.

‘NOSTALGIC ABOUT THE TRANSVAAL’

Previously, we met Maseko, who said he had maintained the TVL number plates despite having a new car because he was “nostalgic about the Transvaal”.

He said he’d had the number 414 TVL GP personalised in his name, something Motshoane denies as he continues to receive fines under his name.

Johannesburg Metro Police Department director Gerrie Gerneke said the case had been handed over to SAPS and was being investigated.

“However, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, in co-operation with the complainant, will support and submit an application to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency for the reissue of all the notices with evidence of displaying a cloned number plate,” he said.

Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila said the investigation had been concluded and the docket sent to the senior public prosecutor in Randburg for a decision.

“This office is awaiting the SPP’s decision,” he said.

After getting the traffic fines and realising his plates had been cloned, Motshoane had to investigate the matter himself.

Earlier this year, in what was a sheer coincidence, he spotted the same colour and make of vehicle bearing his registration number.

He stopped the car, being driven by Maseko, who coincidentally is an acquaintance, and who told him that he had registered the number plate personally under his name.

Motshoane said that was not possible as the vehicle was under his name.

E-TOLL INVOICES

The Star has seen e-toll invoices, up to June 2014, billed to Maseko’s home address and bearing the TVL 414GP plates. The Star has also seen Maseko’s access permit to a Telkom parking area reflecting the TVL 414 GP number plates.

After Motshoane lodged a complaint with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, officers were sent out to impound the vehicle, but withdrew after an instruction was allegedly given by Fowler.

In August, the city said Fowler had denied instructing Johannesburg Metro Police Department officers to leave Maseko’s premises. At the time, council spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said the city manager had received a complaint from Maseko about the conduct of Johannesburg Metro Police Department officials and said Fowler simply referred the complaint to the city’s head of department for public safety, and did not instruct them to leave the premises or stop the investigation.

A few days later, the vehicle was re-registered under number plate 414 TVL GP.

Mabena has in the interim been frustrated, with police constantly delaying the process of prosecution. He has also met several politicians in a bid to get the matter finalised.

“All I want is to get the fines cleared off my name. I don’t want to get involved in politics, I just want to sell the car, which I cannot do with all the fines and e-toll bills attached to it. I need to get on with my life,” he said.

The Star

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