Vexed Joburg motorist set to sue over cloned plates
Fines continue to pile up in spite of months of trying all possible avenues to have the problem resolved
AN ANGRY and frustrated Joburg motorist who has R45 000 in traffic fines for a vehicle that has been off the road for two years is planning to take legal action.
Mabena Motshoane’s Range Rover has been parked in a workshop for two years, awaiting spares from overseas.
But suddenly he started getting fines and realised someone had cloned his number plates. He eventually found that the cloned plates were on a vehicle used by Telkom chief executive Sipho Maseko.
After months of failing to resolve the problem, Motshoane decided to initiate a civil action to force the Joburg metro police department (JMPD) to remove the traffic fines from his name and to take action against Maseko and Joburg city manager Trevor Fowler over the cloning.
At the same time, a criminal investigation is proceeding.
Motshoane has also handed the matter over to the public protector’s office, which has confirmed that an investigation is under way.
This week, the City of Joburg did not reply to a request for comment from The Star.
Telkom managing executive of group communications Jacqui O’Sullivan said Maseko has not received any communication or information on the matter since The Star last spoke to him.
“It’s therefore difficult to comment,” she said.
Previously, The Star met Maseko, who said he had maintained the TVL number plates despite having a new car because he was “nostalgic about the Transvaal”.
He told The Star that he had the number 414 TVL GP personalised under his name, something Motshoane denies as he continues to receive fines under his name.
JMPD director Gerrie Gerneke said the case had been handed over to SAPS and was being investigated.
“However, the JMPD, in cooperation with the complainant, will support and submit an application to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency for the reissue of all the notices with evidence of displaying a cloned number plate,” he said.
Gauteng police spokesman Brigadier Neville Malila said the investigation had been concluded and the docket sent to the senior public prosecutor (SPP) in Randburg for a decision. “This office is awaiting the SPP’s decision,” he said.
After getting the traffic fines and realising his plates had been cloned, Motshoane had to investigate the matter himself.
Earlier this year, in what was a sheer coincidence, he spotted the same colour and make of vehicle bearing his registration number.
He stopped the car, being driven by Maseko, who coincidentally is an acquaintance, and who told him that he had registered the number plate personally under his name.
Motshoane said that was not possible as the vehicle was under his name.
The Star has seen e-toll invoices, up to June this year, billed to Maseko’s home address and bearing the TVL414GP plates. The Star has also seen Maseko’s access permit to a Telkom parking area reflecting the TVL414GP number plates.
After Motshoane lodged a complaint with the JMPD, officers were sent out to impound the vehicle, but withdrew after an instruction was allegedly given by Fowler.
In August, the city said Fowler had denied instructing JMPD officers to leave Maseko’s premises. At the time, council spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said the city manager had received a complaint from Maseko about the conduct of JMPD officials and said Fowler simply referred the complaint to the city’s head of department for public safety, and did not instruct them to leave the premises or stop the investigation.
A few days later, the vehicle was reregistered under number plate 414TVL GP.
Mabena has in the interim been frustrated, with police constantly delaying the process of prosecution. He has also met several politicians in a bid to get the matter finalised.
“All I want is to get the fines cleared out of my name – I don’t want to get involved in politics. I want to sell the car, which I cannot do with all the fines and e-tolls (bills) attached to it. I need to get on with the rest of my life,” he said.