[imagesource: Twitter / @TrafficRTMC]

The law is the law, rules are rules, and all of that.

But watching the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) wrecking a bunch of cars in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) is painful for a number of reasons.

Consider how many South Africans struggle to get to school, or work, or pay large proportions of already meagre salaries to taxis.

That’s not to mention the time spent commuting, and away from their families, which is why watching vehicles getting wrecked is not a vibe.

Yesterday, the RTMC posted videos of vehicles that were illegally registered on the National Traffic Information System being crushed.

More from MyBroadband:

The contingent forms part of 520 cars impounded in 2019 following a fraudulent car registration syndicate investigation.

The probe led to the arrest of 17 suspects, including police officers, transport department officials, and foreign nationals accused of being the leaders of the syndicates.

Among the charges levelled against the suspects are forgery, money laundering, fraud, the selling of illicit goods.

The RTMC Twitter account shared three videos with a BMW 1 Series hatchback and a Toyota Quantum taxi in the firing line:

The destruction of illegally imported second-hand cars continues at the SAPS vehicle safeguarding storage in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape this morning. #BuyaMthetho @Abramjee @SABCNews @eNCA @Dispatch_DD pic.twitter.com/dhmxUTZRXl

— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) March 31, 2022

A total of 91 seized vehicles is being compacted everyday this week under the supervision of the @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/NqD1wShMVH

— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) March 31, 2022

#LawAndOrder pic.twitter.com/1uhwtp9vlE

— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) March 31, 2022

Most of the impounded vehicles are “grey models” according to RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane.

This means they’re imported at greatly reduced prices and sold in various African countries, with many passing through Durban harbour en route.

It’s here that crooks, in conjunction with corrupt officials, capitalise:

South Africa does not permit the sale and use of these cars on its roads, except for visits.

Unless the buyer is willing to pay a substantial import tax to have the vehicle legally registered, it will be seized and destroyed.

This practice is primarily geared toward protecting the local automotive manufacturing industry.

I get it, but couldn’t they strike a deal with the industry to put these cars to better use?

Maybe they could be given to ministers so they didn’t spend our taxes on new vehicles every year?

Just an idea.

[source:mybb]