A woman, 69, admitted she has a licence but still cannot drive after her instructor sent her to the Mandeni testing centre.
|||Durban - A 69-year-old woman admitted on Wednesday that she got a licence but still could not drive. This was after herinstructor had suggested that she go to the Mandeni testing centre because she was “too old”.
Bongekile Ethel Sibiya was testifying in the Eshowe Regional Court, in the trial of eight traffic officers and three clerks formerly employed at the Mandeni Driving Licence Testing Centre, as well as nine driving- school instructors who operated in the area.
Sibiya told the court: “I went to a driving school in Richards Bay to learn how to drive. My driving instructor, Mr Mkhize, said I’m too old, but he knows a person who can help.” She was told the licence would cost R6 000.
On December 3, 2009, Sibiya was picked up in Richards Bay by a man who introduced himself as a Mr Gumede.
At the Mandeni testing centre, she was told she did not have enough ID pictures, and had to go out and have two more taken. She was also told she needed a doctor’s report “to say I’m still fit to drive”, and had to go off and get that, too.
Back at the testing centre, “Gumede came out of the office, and said it is my turn… they gave me my licence,” she said.
Prosecutor Khumbu Shazi produced a copy of Sibiya’s temporary driver’s licence. Sibiya confirmed that it displayed her details.
Shazi: Did you ever go to Mandeni to make an appointment (for a driving test)? – Sibiya: No.
Did they test you? – No.
Did you speak to any examiner? – No, they just told me to pick up my licence.
Do you even know how to drive? – I have not learnt to drive.
Earlier, Tony Freese, the chief provincial tester at the Department of Transport, outlined to the court the process for obtaining a licence.
Applicants had to go to the centre themselves, fill in the official DL1 form and pay a fee.
Sibiya’s testimony on Wednesday related to three charges faced by Brian Senzo Mthembu, 34, one of the traffic officers.
All 20 accused face a charge of racketeering under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The traffic officers also face fraud charges.
The State charges that driving licence applicants were not examined or tested, test sheets were fraudulently completed, and licences were issued to people who were not competent to drive a vehicle.
The driving school owners/ instructors are also charged with corruption for “giving a public officer a benefit” or “accepting a benefit”.
Several other witnesses have said that they obtained driving licences without doing the driving tests. Also on Wednesday, two young women told how they received licences after handing over large sums of money.
Thembisile Andile Ngiba said she paid R500 for a booking and R6 500 for her licence. Sheila Nosipho Nyathi said she was asked to pay R5 500.
Ngiba identified the traffic officer who gave her the licence as “Ntuli”, saying she had seen her name badge. During cross-examination by Veronica Singh, representing Sibongile Benedictor Ntuli, 29, Ngiba could not correctly describe the shape and size of the badge.
Nyathi said she was met at the Mandeni testing ground by “a tall coloured guy who was in his uniform”. Prompted on whether she could identify him, she pointed to the chief examiner, Richie Mark Heslop, 38. But defence attorney Rakesh Maharaj, representing four of the traffic officers, said Heslop did not wear a uniform.
During cross-examination by Maharaj, it also became clear that there were three statements on record, all purporting to have been given by Nyathi. One was dated March 18, 2010 and signed, another was dated July 2010 and also signed. A third was unsigned and undated, and contained an extra paragraph which gave a description of who money was handed over to.
The case continues.
Daily News