SIU recovers R14.7m in transport fraud probe, uncovers widespread licensing corruption

By Thapelo Molefe

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it has recovered and returned R14.7 million to six provincial transport departments after uncovering fraud schemes, systemic weaknesses and manipulated licensing processes in the national transport system.

Announcing the recovery on Wednesday, the SIU said the money had been irregularly diverted from the Nationwide Rolling Stock Fleet (NRSF) project. 

“The SIU has successfully recovered and returned R14.7 million to six Provincial Departments of Transport in its efforts to restore accountability and protect public resources,” the unit said.

The restitution follows the identification of “irregular expenditures totalling R16.7 million” during investigations conducted under Proclamation R37 of 2017, which authorises the SIU to probe serious maladministration in vehicle registration, driver licensing and the eNaTIS system.

The recovered funds were transferred back to Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Limpopo. Of the R9.5 million recovered for Mpumalanga, “R6.9 million came from Optimum