Pietermaritzburg: The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department has announced a strategic partnership with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA) to address the issue of fraudulent roadworthy certificates being issued by private vehicle testing stations. This initiative comes in response to a series of learner transport accidents in the Umgungundlovu District, where three incidents were reported in just four days.
According to South African Government News Agency, the most recent accident involved a minibus taxi carrying learners from various schools, which veered off the road and fell off KwaKhetha Bridge on the P127 near Impendle in the Midlands. Traffic officials reported that 20 learners from Matomela High, Luthando High, and Sthunjwana Primary sustained serious injuries and were taken to Gomane Clinic and Harry Gwala Regional (Edendale) Hospital. The taxi driver fled the scene and is still at large.
Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma expressed concern over the driver’s escape but assured that law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the individual. Duma urged the South African National Taxi Council in KwaZulu-Natal to assume greater responsibility for incidents involving its members. The Automobile Association has estimated that 70,000 minibus taxis are involved in crashes annually, with the sector experiencing double the crash rate compared to other passenger vehicles.
Duma highlighted that the partnership with the VTA, which operates under the Retail Motor Industry Organisation, aims to combat corruption in the issuance of certificates of roadworthiness. ‘We have agreed to work together to isolate elements that are operating vehicles without roadworthy certificates and to ensure that those issuing fraudulent certificates are arrested,’ Duma stated.
As Transport Month approaches in October, the department plans to announce further reforms in collaboration with the VTA. These reforms include strengthening legislation governing the taxi and scholar transport industry, enforcing stricter compliance and accountability measures, requiring biannual Certificates of Roadworthiness for heavy passenger vehicles, and ensuring that all minibuses are inspected at accredited municipal or private testing stations within the KZN province, in accordance with their designated route permits.