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DURBAN, kwaZulu-Natal - Three people have been arrested at the Durban vehicle testing centre which issued a roadworthy certificate for the truck which caused the Pinetown horror crash..
The multiple disaster took 24 lives.
The three men, aged 28 to 66, face charges of fraud and corruption and are expected to appear in the Phoenix Magistrate's Court today (Dec 11 2013)
They were arrested at the Phoenix Testing Station by the Road Traffic Management Corporation's anti-corruption unit and the police during a sting operation. Then face six charge of corruption..
FAKE ROADWORTHY FOR R450
The unit's deputy head, Jody Pillay, said one man was apparently tasked with obtaining business while the other two processed certificates at the private testing station.
He said a roadworthy test normally cost R250 but unroadworthy vehicles would be passed as being roadworthy for R450. He said the incident was not isolated.
"The problem is countrywide. There are fly-by-nights and there are continual operators. It's all about money. They just want to turn a quick buck."
The three covered their faces with jackets as police escorted them from the testing ground.
Pillay said the truck involved in the crash on Fields Hill, near Pinetown, on September 5 had been certified at the Phoenix centre. He could not say if any of those arrested were involved in issuing the roadworthy certificate for the truck.
The driver, Sanele Goodness May, faces 24 counts of murder after the truck crashed into four minibus taxis and two cars.
Pillay said further investigations were under way and that the RTMC would approach the provincial government to have the Phoenix station's licence revoked.
He said it was possible that vehicles approved by the Phoenix Testing Station could be recalled to undergo a fresh roadworthy test.
The multiple disaster took 24 lives.
The three men, aged 28 to 66, face charges of fraud and corruption and are expected to appear in the Phoenix Magistrate's Court today (Dec 11 2013)
They were arrested at the Phoenix Testing Station by the Road Traffic Management Corporation's anti-corruption unit and the police during a sting operation. Then face six charge of corruption..
FAKE ROADWORTHY FOR R450
The unit's deputy head, Jody Pillay, said one man was apparently tasked with obtaining business while the other two processed certificates at the private testing station.
He said a roadworthy test normally cost R250 but unroadworthy vehicles would be passed as being roadworthy for R450. He said the incident was not isolated.
"The problem is countrywide. There are fly-by-nights and there are continual operators. It's all about money. They just want to turn a quick buck."
The three covered their faces with jackets as police escorted them from the testing ground.
Pillay said the truck involved in the crash on Fields Hill, near Pinetown, on September 5 had been certified at the Phoenix centre. He could not say if any of those arrested were involved in issuing the roadworthy certificate for the truck.
The driver, Sanele Goodness May, faces 24 counts of murder after the truck crashed into four minibus taxis and two cars.
Pillay said further investigations were under way and that the RTMC would approach the provincial government to have the Phoenix station's licence revoked.
He said it was possible that vehicles approved by the Phoenix Testing Station could be recalled to undergo a fresh roadworthy test.
