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About 37 foreign registered vehicles were impounded during a joint jaws special operation conducted by the North West Traffic Authorities and the South African Revenue Services’ (SARS) Customs Unit in the Mahikeng and Lichtenburg areas.

Thirty four of these vehicles were Botswana registration, one Zimbabwe Lesotho and Swaziland. According to Authorities most of these vehicles were driven by the South African citizens.

North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi said the operation which focused on the foreign vehicles follows a concern that most of South African citizens buy these cars from neighbouring countries and leave them with such registrations to avoid paying the 14% vat to the SARS office.

“All of the impounded vehicles are not in their names. We will continue with investigations and we need them to avail a valid prove that they are rightful owners of these cars and we have given them seven days to do so,” said Maloyi.

According to the MEC, failure for the drivers to prove that they are actual owners of these vehicles, would led the department together with SARS to follow the next step that could lead to exporting them (vehicles) to their respective countries.

The departmental MEC has called upon rightful owners of the vehicles to come forth and prove that they have sold their vehicles and follow the right procedure of registering them into their new owner’s names.

Since the department conducted this special operation focusing on foreign registered vehicles, Traffic Authorities have noticed that most of these vehicles are not fit for the South African roads and thus they contribute to a high number of road accidents.

MEC Maloyi said the province is committed to reducing lawlessness on public roads and jaws special operations will continue and spread to other areas of the province ensuring compliance of drivers and vehicles on the roads.