Hot-wired taxi sparks roadworthy charge

Published Jan 20, 2015

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Cape Town - A Lansdowne vehicle roadworthy testing centre is being investigated by the Hawks for fraud and corruption relating to the issuing of roadworthy certificates.

This comes after a traffic officer pulled over a minibus taxi which was found to be unroadworthy, but which the centre had allegedly declared fit for the road.

Provincial transport and public works department spokesman Siphesihle Dube said a criminal case had been opened against Universal Roadworthy Station.

In 2009, law enforcement officials pulled over a taxi on Buitengracht Street and found it to have defective brakes, smooth tyres, broken lights and all-round rust.

The driver was in possession of a roadworthy certificate obtained from the same centre. The examiner was arrested.

Dube said the investigation was ongoing.

“The company is being investigated and a criminal case has been opened with the Hawks. The investigation is still under way, and the matter is currently before the courts,” he said.

HOT-WIRED

On Friday, a city law enforcement official stopped the taxi in Mouille Point, where he found numerous defects with the vehicle’s doors, parking brakes, safety belts and buckles. The taxi also had to be hot-wired to start.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said an investigation found that the vehicle had been through a roadworthy test at the Universal Roadworthy Station a week earlier, where it was declared fit for the road. The centre could not be reached for comment on Monday.

“As infuriating as this incident is, it is sadly not uncommon,” said Smith.”We have seen numerous cases where motorists are found to be in possession of roadworthy certificates for vehicles that should not be on the road in the first place.

These vehicles are a danger, not only to the people using them but also to other road users.”

“These vehicles are a danger not only to the people using them, but also to other road users,” said Smith.

Pictures supplied by his department showed wiring hanging from the minibus taxi’s ignition system and a broken safety belt buckle.

Cape Times

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