Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has requested the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate the widespread corruption at vehicle testing stations (VTS) contained in an Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) report.
Outa’s report, released to the public on Friday, followed its investigation which revealed that vehicles failing inspections in Gauteng were mysteriously issued roadworthy certificates by testing stations in Limpopo and North West – sometimes within as little as 30 minutes.
“While we appreciate the minister’s decision to hand it over to the Special Investigating Unit, Outa decided that it was in the public interest to share our findings with the media, after several requests,” said Outa Senior Project Manager, Rudie Heyneke.
Heyneke said the corruption could not be allowed to continue, as it was endangering the lives of millions of South African road users at risk daily.
“This is something our country can ill afford.”
Outa shared the report with the Minister and the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit early in March for investigation and possible criminal prosecution of all parties involved.
The issues highlighted in the report will be added to the current scope of the SIU’s investigation in respect of the affairs of the national Department of Transport, the provincial Departments of Transport, and local authorities and entities that perform functions in terms of the National Road Traffic Act of 1996 in terms of Proclamation 191 of 2024.
The identities of individuals have been redacted in the report to protect their privacy.
The release of the report comes as the country enters the Easter season, a period notorious for increased road fatalities, and shortly after the Department of Transport launched its Easter road safety campaign themed ‘It Begins with Me’.
“While the Transport Department is urging drivers to take personal responsibility for safer roads, Outa believes that real change must start with government accountability,” Heyneke said.
He said the recently released 2025 World’s Safest Roads report by Zutobi made it even more evident that urgent action was needed to increase road safety in South Africa, as the country remains ranked as the world’s most dangerous country to drive in.
“With 24.5 road deaths per 100 000 people, we should be deeply concerned. This crisis is worsened by corruption in road safety enforcement, which allows thousands of unroadworthy vehicles to remain on the roads.”
He added that the issues surrounding road safety and vehicle roadworthiness in the country were “staggering” as 1.2 million vehicles in South Africa were deemed unroadworthy and an additional 800 000 vehicles were either unregistered or classified as unroadworthy.
“Road accidents cost the economy R205 billion annually – this amounts to 2.47% of the gross domestic product,” said Heyneke.
Meanwhile, despite a Transport Department crackdown, resulting in 21 282 speeding fines, over 3 000 drunk driving arrests, and the impounding of more than 12 000 illegal vehicles, Outa warned that this did not address the root cause of the problem.
“We cannot improve road safety while corruption at testing stations goes unchecked,” said Heyneke.
“Issuing and accepting fraudulent roadworthy certificates is a criminal offence that has a direct impact on road deaths. Vehicle owners obtaining roadworthy certificates in this manner are just as guilty as the individuals issuing the certificates and should also be prosecuted.”
Outa said that by making the full report public it aimed to increase pressure on authorities to take action.
“We cannot allow this report to gather dust while lives are lost. If those in charge refuse to act, civil society will hold them accountable,” Heyneke said.
Access Outa’s report on allegations of corruption at vehicle testing station corruption here.
