Up to half
of vehicle
operators
may be
unqualified
James Hall
MBABANE - It's no secret that many users of Swaziland's roads should not be there, but the break-up of a counterfeit drivers' licence ring by police last week suggested a reason behind the high number of unqualified drivers.
The Swazi News estimates that so widespread is the use of forged drivers licences in Swaziland that up to half of vehicle operators in the country may be unqualified.
The Manzini-based forgery ring used colour photocopy machines to run off duplicate licences from borrowed legitimate licences. A photo of the person purchasing the fake licence for R50 was inserted, and the card was laminated.
Several holders of fake licences told FTW they had purchased them to avoid paying R1500 for lessons at driving schools needed to qualify for legitimate licences. They were also unaware of the meaning of road regulations and signs, such as what a yellow robot light signifies or the difference between a solid and broken road dividing line.
The syndicate's alleged ringleader, a 31 year-old Manzini resident, was working with dozens of accomplices who peddled the licences throughout the country.
"There was no reason why anyone would bother going to driving school and qualifying for a real licence when no one has ever been arrested for
a fake," admits a police source, who said police had never run checks on the legitimacy of licences.
The police public relations office would not comment on what steps would be taken to crack down on illegal motorists.
The number of road accident victims declined
10% this year from 2000's figures, but accidents were so prevalent that the government's compensatory scheme, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, faced insolvency before parliament allotted additional monies.
