SIU Recovers R14.7 Million in Vehicle Licensing Corruption Probe

Thousands of licences cancelled and millions reclaimed in multi-provincial investigation

South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has made a significant dent in long-standing corruption within the vehicle and driver licensing system, recovering R14.7 million and cancelling nearly 190,500 licences issued to deceased individuals. The findings reveal how systemic weaknesses were exploited across multiple provinces, costing the state millions and undermining public trust in essential transport services.

Mpumalanga Leads in Recovered Funds

The SIU investigation, launched in 2017, primarily targeted irregularities in the electronic National Traffic Information System (eNatis). Across six provinces, the recovered funds total R14.7 million, with Mpumalanga alone accounting for R9.5 million.

“After sifting through eNatis data, the SIU established that the Department of Transport is owed R6.9 million by Optimum Coal Mine for trucks and smaller vehicles between January 2018 and November 2022,” said SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
The mining giant has since settled the debt.

Other provinces recovered comparatively smaller sums: Limpopo (R17,000), Free State (R60,000), KwaZulu-Natal (R65,000), Eastern Cape (R306,000), and Gauteng (R4.7 million).

How Corruption Happened

Investigators uncovered a pattern of systemic abuse:

• Officials manipulated eNatis, altering vehicle statuses, weights, and fees.

• Outstanding fees owed by certain individuals were illegally transferred to deceased persons’ accounts or random citizens.

• Foreign driver licences were converted using unverified documents.

• Cash records were misreported, daily reconciliations ignored, and revenue statements left unverified.

In total, the SIU identified irregular expenditures worth R16.7 million, of which R14.7 million has now been recovered and returned to the relevant departments.

Accountability Measures

The investigation has not only reclaimed funds but also triggered disciplinary and criminal actions:

• 151 officials face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

• 73 officials are undergoing internal disciplinary processes.

• 78 officials have been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Recommendations for a Cleaner System

To prevent future abuses, the SIU has recommended systemic reforms, including:

• Linking eNatis directly with the Department of Home Affairs and Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) databases for real-time verification.

• Amending the National Road Traffic Act to clarify responsibilities for company proxies and representatives.

• Improved internal audits and monitoring mechanisms to reduce reliance on human discretion that previously enabled corruption.

Kganyago emphasized the importance of real-time data verification and cross-referencing to ensure that funds are properly collected and accounted for, stating that the reforms would strengthen accountability across the transport sector.

Public and Industry Reaction

The recovery has been welcomed by transport advocates and the public, who have long criticized inefficiencies and fraudulent practices in licensing offices. Social media users hailed the SIU’s work:

“Finally, some accountability! Millions lost because of careless or corrupt officials, good to see the state fighting back,” tweeted a Gauteng-based transport activist.

Industry insiders, particularly in mining and logistics, have noted that while compliance costs increase, the long-term effect of system integrity and trust is worth the investment.

{Source: The Citizen}

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