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Annual Seminar of the Institute of Licence Officials of SA
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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 EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Provincial Safety, Liaison and Transport



Address by the MEC for Safety and Security, Mr Dennis Neer: at the 31st Annual General Meeting and 11th Annual Seminar of the Institute of 
Licence Officials of Southern  Africa, 28 March 1999

"Challenges for licensing in the new Millennium"

Introduction

Master of Ceremonies
 The Mayor of East London
 Councillors
 Representatives of organisations in attendance
 Members and Officials of the Institute of Licence Officials of Southern Africa
 Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

It is an honour and privilege for me to stand here today to deliver the opening address to this much awaited and important gathering today, 
which is pioneered by the Institute of Licence Officials of Southern Africa. We are gathered here today under the auspices of this 
organisation which was established by people with interest in the administration and certification functions, in line with the Road Traffic 
Act, 1989 (Act 29, of 1989) and the Business Act, 1991 (Act 71 of 1991), which has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that there is 
efficiency and professionalism in the field of licensing.

CRIME AND CORRUPTION: LICENSING AND REGISTRATION

I wish to give a broad picture of the state of affairs, particularly focussing on the connection between crime/corruption and the areas of 
licensing and registration, namely, issuing of drivers licence and registration of motor vehicles, in the Eastern Cape Province.

There is no doubt that these two areas that I have alluded to above are a thorn on the flesh of the Departments of Transport and Safety and 
Security, which have to arrest the worrying levels of corruption and inefficiency in the issuing of drivers licences and licensing and 
registration of motor vehicles, which are one of the most focus areas today.

While the role of the Institute of Licence Officials of Southern Africa, is well defined and appreciated as it contributes to advancing the 
licensing profession in the form of education and training for its members involved in this field and also promoting all components of the 
licensing legislation, it also needs to find a role in the fight against corruption in this field as well.

In promoting efficiency and professionalism, the Institute also has to compliment the efforts being made by Anti-Corruption Agencies, such 
as the Heath Special Investigation Unit, the Public Protector, and the SAPS, in stamping out this scourge in our departments.

There are a number of fraudulent drivers licences in the possession of so called "drivers" out there which have not been traced which 
obviously were issued by some corrupt elements in our departments. Investigations by the Police in the Eastern Cape alone have uncovered 
thousands of stolen blank licences from the former Transkei and Ciskei which were issued illegally or fraudulently to unqualified "drivers" 
by certain corrupt officials in the Justice Departments of these erstwhile administrations.

While new traffic legislation introduced by our democratic government, which saw the amalgamation of the various traffic administrations of 
the old South African Government and the ex-homelands, saw a closure of the loopholes and drastically reduced this form of corruption, we, 
however, cannot claim to have accomplished our mission to root out this crime.

Though, we can publicly say that we have managed to penetrate the hearts of the syndicates that operate this lucrative "business", as 
supported by the arrests and recovery of these illegal licences, on a daily basis in the Eastern Cape.

However, we have to ensure that we co-ordinate our activities and roles as the different agencies involved in fighting corruption, so that 
objectives are not competitive against one another, but are complementary.

Organisations such as this Institute and other Private or Public Organisations have a meaningful role to play in assisting government to 
address corruption in traffic sections that deal with the issuing of licences.

There are number of stolen and unroadworthy vehicles which have been issued with legal registration and licensing certificates on our 
roads, most of which are being used in the taxi industry, which pose a threat to the lives of unsuspecting commuters and the general 
public. Surely, something needs to be done to stop this.

JOINT CAMPAIGN AGAINST CRIME AND CORRUPTION

Ladies and Gentlemen, there is no doubt as to which sections/divisions are responsible for issuing these documents, hence, therefore we 
need to find dedicated and honest employees within institutions such as this one (The Institute of Licence Officials of Southern Africa) to 
assist, through various means, Anti - Corruption and Law - Enforcement Agencies in the investigation and arrests of those involved in the 
issuing of these illegal and fraudulent certificates.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the scourge of crime and corruption, in our society cannot be over emphasised, hence, civil society, the private 
sector, NGOs, etc, need to be brought on board in advancing a Anti- Corruption Campaign, which should reach every sector of our society, so 
that we expose the criminal elements behind this and take drastic and effective measures to curb this crime.

CONCLUSION: EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND EMPOWERMENT

In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, it should also be acknowledged that there is a dire need for training of our officials who are charged 
with the responsibilities of examining vehicles, issuing licences, etc, so that there is efficiency and professionalism in this regard.

Whilst the issue of corruption could be said to be the underlying factor, we also need to empower officials in these fields so that they do 
not become victims of circumstances that are not of their own making.

In confronting corruption, we also need to close all avenues that could be exploited to our own disadvantage, by investing in dedicated 
personnel that is employed in these traffic sections,

through training. We need to find a way to draw in the expertise you have, as this Institute, to assist us in empowering our employees, so 
that the campaign against corruption is intensified.

I do not have the slightest doubt the Department of Transport in our Province, is making strides and inroads when it comes to rooting out 
corruption and we, in Safety and Security, enjoy a very close working relationship with this department.

Lastly, as we approach the new Millennium, more and more challenges of this nature will confront us, hence, a focussed, co- ordinated and 
joint approach is needed. One of the primary objectives of this approach, will obviously, have to be directed specifically against Crime 
and Corruption, as reflected in my address and this has to strengthen and consolidate other government strategies that have already been 
formulated, to address these challenges.

I wish you fruitful deliberations and a pleasant stay in our Province.

I thank you

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