A mechanic’s alleged decision to take a government vehicle for a drinking trip has ended with his arrest in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal, after traffic officers reportedly followed the car and found him travelling with his girlfriend and three friends.
The vehicle had been taken to a local repair company for work. Instead of remaining under the company’s care, it was allegedly used without permission and driven around the area while the mechanic and his companions visited liquor outlets.
The incident happened early on Sunday morning and drew attention after photographs of the man being questioned by Road Traffic Inspectorate officers circulated on social media.
The vehicle was reportedly found with bottles of alcohol inside.
The mechanic and his alleged accomplices are expected to appear in the Obonjeni Magistrates’ Court on six charges. These include impersonating traffic police, illegally using a government vehicle, using a vehicle without the owner’s consent, damaging government property, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a valid licence.
The suspect’s name has not been released.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport said the vehicle had been sent to a repair company and that the mechanic worked at the business used by the department.
Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya said members of the public alerted authorities after seeing the vehicle being driven around liquor stores.
“The incident occurred early Sunday morning. The man, who works at a car repair company we use, took a car that was to be repaired and used it illegally. The area to which it was being transported was the one that was supposed to be guarded by a police vehicle to ensure its safety. The man was arrested after other members of the public reported seeing him driving around liquor stores using the vehicle, as he had also been watching,” Sibiya said.
The statement does not explain why the vehicle was being moved or exactly what safety arrangements were in place around it. It does, however, make clear that the car was not being used for an authorised departmental duty when the mechanic was allegedly intercepted.
Public Reports Lead To Follow-Up
According to the department, members of the public played a role in bringing the vehicle to the attention of RTI officers.
The reports indicated that the vehicle was being driven around liquor outlets in Jozini. Traffic officers then followed the car and arrested the mechanic and other people inside or associated with it.
The department has not released the names or ages of the three friends who were allegedly travelling with the mechanic. It is also not clear which of the accused faces each individual charge.
The charges will have to be dealt with in court, where the State is expected to set out its case and the accused will have an opportunity to respond.
The allegation that the mechanic was driving under the influence is separate from the allegation that he took the vehicle without permission. The first charge concerns his condition while driving, while the second concerns the alleged unauthorised use of property belonging to another party.
Police or traffic officials may also rely on evidence from the arresting officers, members of the public who reported the vehicle and the repair company that had accepted it for work.
The alcohol bottles reportedly found in the vehicle may form part of the evidence, although their presence alone does not establish who had been drinking or whether the driver was over the legal limit.
A blood-alcohol or other assessment would be needed to support a drunk-driving case. The department has not released those details.
Six Charges Listed
Sibiya said the accused would face six charges linked to the alleged incident.
“Among the charges against them are impersonating traffic police, illegally using a government vehicle, using a vehicle without the consent of its owner, damaging government property, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a valid driver's license,” he said.
The alleged impersonation charge raises questions about what the mechanic may have said or done while using the RTI vehicle. The department has not explained whether he wore an official uniform, used emergency equipment or presented himself to other people as a traffic officer.
It is also not clear what damage was allegedly caused to the government vehicle or whether that damage happened during the trip.
A state vehicle can be taken out of service for many reasons if it is damaged or requires further repairs. That could affect the department’s work, particularly if the vehicle was being prepared for an official function or was needed in an area with limited resources.
The department has not provided an estimate of the alleged damage.
The charge of driving without a valid licence will also have to be proved through official records and evidence collected during the arrest.
Department Criticises Alleged Conduct
Sibiya expressed concern that the suspect was employed while many other people remained without work.
He said it was troubling to see someone with a job allegedly abuse the opportunity and the trust placed in him by the repair company and the department.
The department has not said whether the mechanic was a permanent employee of the repair company or worked there in another capacity. It has also not confirmed whether the business itself faces any action.
The repair company had been entrusted with the government vehicle while it was being repaired. The department said it strongly criticised the way the vehicle was handled after it was left in the company’s care.
Officials are expected to examine how the mechanic obtained access to the car, whether any keys or documents were removed without authorisation and whether the repair company followed its own security procedures.
The investigation may also establish whether the vehicle was driven only within Jozini or taken to other areas before the arrest.
Vehicle Was Meant For Repair
The central issue in the case is how a vehicle booked in for repairs allegedly ended up being used for a private outing.
The department said the mechanic took the car from the repair company and used it illegally. It did not say whether the company had given him permission to test-drive the vehicle or whether he was authorised to move it as part of the repair process.
A test drive may be allowed during repairs, but it would normally be connected to checking the vehicle’s condition and would not authorise private use or visits to liquor outlets.
The court will have to consider the circumstances in which the vehicle was taken, the route it travelled and what the accused intended to do with it.
The department’s account suggests that officials had been watching the vehicle after members of the public raised the alarm. The wording also indicates that RTI members followed the car before making the arrest.
No details have been released about whether the mechanic attempted to escape, whether there was a chase or whether anyone resisted arrest.
Questions About The Arrest
Photographs of the arrest and questioning were circulated on social media, but the department has not confirmed who took the images or whether the accused’s personal details were shared legally.
The circulation of photographs can create public interest, but it can also lead to people being identified before a case has been heard in court.
For that reason, the suspect has not been named in this report because his identity was not released by the authorities.
The department has also not said whether the girlfriend and three friends were all arrested or whether some were questioned and released.
Sibiya referred to the mechanic and his alleged accomplices, suggesting that more than one person may face charges. The court record should clarify the number of accused and the charges against each of them.
The charges are serious because they involve alleged misuse of government property, potential misrepresentation of an official service and road-safety offences.
The department has promised that strict measures will be taken after the investigation is completed.
What Happens Next
The accused are expected to appear in the Obonjeni Magistrates’ Court, where the matter will be formally placed on the court roll.
The court may deal with bail, further investigations and the dates for future appearances. The State could also request additional time if it needs to obtain vehicle records, repair-company documents, traffic-officer statements or test results.
Investigators may examine the condition of the vehicle, the bottles found inside it, the mechanic’s driving credentials and the authorisation documents linked to the repair job.
They may also interview the people who reported seeing the vehicle at liquor outlets and the RTI officers who followed and stopped it.
The department has not said whether the vehicle has been returned to service or whether it remains part of the investigation.
For now, the incident has raised questions about the control of government vehicles and the checks that should be in place when state property is handed to private repair businesses.
The department’s position is that the vehicle was taken and used illegally. The accused will have an opportunity to answer the charges in court.
What began as a repair job ended with a government vehicle allegedly being used for a private drinking trip, a roadside intervention by traffic officers and six charges waiting to be tested before a magistrate.
