The Gauteng Department of Community Safety has invited all learner transport operators and contracted learner bus transport services to participate in its annual voluntary and free testing of vehicle roadworthiness.
The testing will run until February 24 during weekdays between 08:30 and 15:30.
This year the areas included in the testing are Langlaagte, Mabopane, Springs, Brakpan, Donkerhoek, Heidelberg, Vanderbijlpark, Randfontein, Mogale City, Midrand, Sandton, Merafong and Randburg. In 2016 testing ran for a much shorter period of time — four days— and only included the first four areas and Waltloo.
Mobile testing stations will also be deployed at identified areas across the province.
There is no word from the department yet – FTW Online has been attempting to reach the media liaison since Monday – on whether the expansion (nine more areas than 2016) has any association with the crackdown on corruption within the Gauteng licensing department.
There has been a relentless campaign to root out corruption since the year started which has resulted in the suspension of 19 Motor Vehicle Registering Authority (MVRA) officials for a total of 304 fraudulent transactions which lost the province R6.2 million in revenue and led to the arrest of four licensing department officials for fraud and corruption just this year.
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) issued a statement earlier this year that services at six licensing and testing stations would be affected due to the suspension of 70 staff members for corruption. Three of those stations are included in the voluntary roadworthiness testing.
