The consequences of owning an illegal driving license
What’s the deal with illegal driving licenses?
Getting your driving licence can be a complete drag, especially since you may have to wait months for a booking and then have to sweat it out during the test, which you may not even pass.
You may be tempted to try to find a corrupt official to bribe for your licence. But are you fully aware of the consequences of such a decision? And what should you do if an official approaches you for a bribe?
Working The System
Driving-licence fraud is unfortunately a major problem in South Africa. People generally bribe their way to a licence because they can’t get a booking quickly enough or they’re worried the test is too difficult. First-time drivers are sometimes even conned by driving instructors and don’t know that they’re getting their licence illegally, because their driving school will lie to them about how much it costs for the test.
Then there are the corrupt officials at the testing centres who approach you for bribes. So-called “runners” or middlemen will approach you in the queue at the centre and ask for a bribe, and examiners may do the same during the test.
Around R20-million is being spent annually to combat this kind of corruption. In a joint project with the police’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU), more than 6 000 illegal licences have been cancelled, and criminal proceedings have been instituted against a number of corrupt officials, members of the public and fly-by-night driving instructors. And although the National Traffic Information System – or eNaTIS, as it’s known – was given bad publicity initially, it’s in fact a formidable world-class system that prevents unscrupulous officials from extorting money from members of the public.
What to do about bribery
If someone approaches you for a bribe it’s best to ‘play dumb’ and just say you don’t have any money. Don’t make a scene or take them on. Your examiner may fail you but you can appeal this at a later stage. Also, don’t report anything to the centre’s supervisor, because there isn’t much he or she can do.
Instead, call the Department of Transport’s Investigations and Forensics Sub-directorate on 012 309 3864 or fax your complaint to 012 323 6909. You can stay anonymous but it’s best to provide a signed affidavit, which will be handed over to the SIU to investigate.
To steer clear of fly-by-night schools, always verify that yours is affiliated to a national body such as The South African Institute of Driving Instructors.
Death On The Roads
The public often complains that examiners ask for bribes, yet investigations show that there are as many members of the public offering bribes of their own accord.
If we all act responsibly and refuse to pay bribes, those who ask for bribes will stop doing so. Remember that a fraudulently obtained licence can and will be cancelled at some point, criminal proceedings will be instituted against you. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Bribing your way to a licence is not only morally wrong and criminal but it can also endanger you and everyone else on the road. After all, those who can’t pass the test honestly presumably can’t drive well enough – and none of us should want them on our roads.
A car can be a lethal weapon in the hands of an unskilled driver, as proven year after year through just short of a total of 1 000 000 road crashes, 14 000 fatalities, 60 000 serious injuries and 160 000 slight injuries. These cost the country about R100–billion annually.
Ultimately, by getting your driving licence legitimately, you are not only doing the right thing and combating corruption, but you may also be saving your own life and the lives of others.