The Shocking Truth Behind South Africa’s Roadworthy Certification Fraud

Rampant Fraud in SA’s Vehicle Testing System Exposed

Roadworthy Scandal: An investigative report by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has exposed extensive fraud in South Africa’s vehicle testing stations (VTSs), revealing how vehicles that fail roadworthy inspections in Gauteng can secure a pass in Limpopo within just 30 minutes—without ever leaving the province.

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This shocking loophole raises major concerns about road safety, as thousands of unsafe vehicles continue to operate on South Africa’s roads, leading to fatal accidents and billions in economic losses.

How the Scam Works: Corruption in Vehicle Testing Stations

Outa’s investigation uncovered a systemic fraud network involving VTS owners, public officials, and transport fleet operators. The key findings include:

Bribery for Roadworthy Certificates: Certain VTSs in Limpopo and North West provinces issue roadworthy certificates without conducting inspections, allowing unroadworthy taxis, buses, and trucks to stay on the road.
Self-Certification by Transport Companies: Owners of large fleets “inspect” their own vehicles and approve them as roadworthy, despite many of these vehicles failing safety standards.
Cost-Cutting at the Expense of Safety: Legally, buses must undergo roadworthy tests every six months. However, fraudulent testing allows fleet owners to skip proper inspections, saving thousands of rands while putting passengers’ lives at risk.

The Devastating Consequences of Unroadworthy Vehicles

The impact of this fraudulent system is deadly. The December 2024 Road Safety Report revealed that:

16,527 vehicles were declared unroadworthy and fined during the festive season.
8,917 vehicles were impounded for failing roadworthy standards.
Fatal crashes cost South Africa an estimated R186.5 billion annually.

According to Outa’s Senior Project Manager, Rudie Heyneke, the fraudulent practices directly contribute to South Africa’s rising road fatalities.

Government’s Response & Call for Action

Outa has submitted its findings to Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit for urgent action. The organization has also urged the government to:

✅ Enforce stricter monitoring of vehicle testing stations
✅ Introduce mandatory roadworthy tests for taxis and buses in their registered province
✅ Crackdown on corrupt VTS owners and public officials involved in the scam

“Immediate action is required, and we urge the government to restore the integrity of the roadworthiness testing system before more lives are lost,” said Heyneke.

South Africa’s road safety crisis is worsening, with fraudulent roadworthy certifications enabling dangerous vehicles to remain on the roads. The recent revelations by Outa highlight the urgent need for reform to protect millions of motorists and passengers.

With the lives of innocent South Africans at stake, will the government take the necessary action to end this deadly scam?

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