Fraudulent certificates lead to heavy fines for trucks in eThekwini's traffic operation
The eThekwini Municipality said fines were issued after 20 trucks were found with fraudulent dangerous goods certificates.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
A freight enforcement blitz by eThekwini Municipality has seen three trucks being impounded and hefty fines being issued for twenty freight vehicles which were operating with fraudulent certificates.
A multi-agency operation was held by the eThekwini Transport Authority’s (ETA) Road Safety Branch on Tuesday. The operation, which was held along South Coast Road and Solomon Mahlangu Drive, involved the Metro Police, Fire Services Directorate, Border Management Authority, and the Road Traffic Inspectorate.
The municipality stated that twenty trucks had fraudulent dangerous goods certificates and fines were issued.
A further three trucks were impounded, while one truck driver was arrested. A total of 36 trucks were stopped and checked during the operation.
Three trucks were also impounded and a driver was arrested.
Image: eThekwini Municipality
The City said in a statement that officials checked vehicles for outstanding traffic fines, fire safety equipment, and fire permits (dangerous goods certificates issued by the Fire Services Directorate). Work permits and passports of foreign truck drivers were also scrutinised.
ETA Road Safety Senior Manager Ravina Sewlal said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of multi-agency collaboration in improving road safety.
“The discovery of 20 trucks operating with fraudulent dangerous goods certificates is deeply concerning and highlights the need for continued vigilance,” Sewlal said.
She added that the operation formed part of ETA’s ongoing road safety and compliance programme, which runs throughout the year and not only during Transport Month. “These operations target high-risk areas identified through traffic and crash data. I commend our Road Safety staff and partners for their dedication and professionalism,” she added.
The municipality said road safety practitioners will continue with similar operations across eThekwini, focusing on hotspots identified through data analysis.