New technology to combat driver’s licence fraud
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport has launched new software in a bold new effort to fight rampant corruption.
MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Bheki Ntuli, along with senior Road Traffic Inspectorate officials launched the new technology, known at E-Driver, at the Rossburgh testing station this morning.
While it was only officially launched today, the technology has already been put into action and has led to arrests.
Last week, officials at the department used the technology to arrest a woman who had been writing learner’s licence exams on behalf of scores of people.
Thembeka Mabaso was arrested at Marianhill testing station last Thursday and made her first court appearance in the Pinetown Specialised Commercial Crime Court yesterday. She faces several counts of fraud.
Ntuli said that the new technology would go a long way towards curbing fraud and corruption.
The new software is an upgrade of a system that has been around since 2005.
“From the moment a person walks into the centre it captures your picture, and you have to use your fingerprints to be logged into the system. So whenever you come to the centre it recognises you and brings up all the information it has about you,” said Ntuli.
“When testing for driver’s licences, the system is connected everywhere in the centre including the cameras outside. If there is a dispute it will pick it up.”
He said the new technology was only being used in KwaZulu-Natal.
The software being used on the system works on the Android platform and can be used on both a desktop computer and a tablet.
“This launch of technology forms part of intensifying the festive season safety plan to end road crashes.
“E-driver is part of the endeavours by the province to produce a new generation of drivers and will reduce the backlog in driver testing centres, as it is a faster system,” Ntuli said.
The technology was created by a company called Licence Pro.
Siyabonga Mbatha, a representative of the company, said the rise in corruption at testing stations had driven the search for ways in which it could be overcome by smart technology.