Joint string targets cross-border corruption and fraud

Nearly 600 vehicles were stopped and searched during a 24-hour joint law enforcement operation between South Africa and Namibia on Saturday. According to General Kaine Monyepao, head of the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) Road Transport Inspectorate (RTI), 52 fines were issued while one truck conveying a container was detained at the Kopfontein border post for further customs and cross-border-related investigations. “Preliminary results revealed that the contents of the container did not match what was recorded in the consignment documents,” said Monyepao. The operation, spearheaded by the C-BRTA, was aimed at curbing cross-border corruption and fraud while the general flouting of road transport regulations by various road users and transport operators was also a focus. Members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Northwest Traffic authority and South African Revenue Service (Sars), along with the Namibian Road Transport Authorities, joined the C-BRTA along the border corridors in the North West province and Namibia for the day-long policing operation. “A total of 595 vehicles were searched for cross-border, customs and general criminal matters. This number includes both passenger and freight cross-border vehicles,” said Monyepao. “It is October Transport Month and in line with this year’s theme of ‘Celebrating 20 years of delivering efficient, reliable and safe transport services’ C-BRTA has decided to intensify its law enforcement operations in order to clamp down on illegal and unsafe vehicles and so reduce road fatalities. RTI says the flouting of the law, crossborder corruption and use of unroadworthy vehicles on our roads and the country’s borders ends here and now.” Driver fitness and the general roadworthiness of vehicles passing through these routes were also under the spotlight. Monyepao said relevant documents (permits, licences) were also checked for authenticity and compliance. “The joint law enforcement operation with the Namibia Cross Border Road Transport Inspectorate and Namibian Traffic officials was also aimed at harmonising law enforcement practices within the SADC member states as well as sharing best law enforcement practices,” he said. INSERT 595 The number of vehicles searched during the sting