RTMC probes false Tshwane plates

Tshwane's deputy metro police chief faces a probe by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) after claims he used false number plates.

RTMC spokesman for enforcement and co-ordination, Ashref Ismail, said he could not provide any further details. A statement would be issued in due course, he said.

Tshwane metro spokesman Pieter de Necker earlier said Ndumisa Jaca was being investigated by the municipality, after claims that he used false plates on his cars surfaced last week.

On Tuesday, the Pretoria News published photographs of a yellow motorcycle and a black BMW Z4, both of which had the number plate BALTY GP.

According to the report the car and motorcycle belonged to Jaca, who was also acting police chief.

De Necker said Jaca had been given time to respond to the allegations, and that the municipality's investigations were not criminal in nature.

According to the National Road Traffic Act of 1996, displaying false number plates is punishable by a fine or jail term of up to three years.

Section 68 of the Act reads that no one can "falsify or counterfeit or, with intent to deceive, replace, alter, deface or mutilate or add anything to a registration number or a registration mark... ".

The legislation also states that "in the absence of evidence to the contrary" it would be presumed the accused person knew his vehicle had false number plates.

Automobile Association spokesman Gary Ronald said he would have expected Jaca to have appeared before a magistrate.

"These allegations are not a case of paying an admission of guilt fine. If it's true then it's up there with reckless and drunk driving. This is serious."

In KwaZulu-Natal, someone caught with false number plates would have the vehicle impounded and be locked up until they had appeared before a magistrate, before possibly being released on bail.

"One would expect them [Jaca] to set the standard, the bar for other people to follow," he said.