looklocal became the platform for a dodgy advertisement when a comment was made on an online article, concerning guaranteed passes for driving tests.
The Randburg Sun published an article titled ‘Corruption and fraud at testing station’ on 28 February, highlighting allegations of fraud outside the gate at the Randburg Licence Testing Station. This newspaper found people selling fake licences, one of the victims was Patrick, who allegedly paid a driving instructor R2 500 for a guaranteed-pass driving test and which he subsequently failed.
On 14 April a reader commented on the article published on the looklocal website, “get a license fast at affordable price. are you residing at randburg n struggling to get a driver license? its easy. you can get it at R2500-R3500 with or without testing, you only do finger prints n licence will be yours immediately. its not a fake its original. all codes. 100% pass guarantee. halla at me at [phone number and email address]… to arrange booking. you snooze you loose.”
When the man, whose full name is known to the Randburg Sun was called, the newspaper discovered that he is the same man whom Patrick accused of organising his guaranteed-pass test. The man said he does not organise guaranteed-pass driving tests anymore and he did not comment on the article, because someone wanted to blemish his name. “I do not do that anymore,” he protested. “Someone is doing this to me. I now work in sewage, fixing pipes.”
Patrick said the man is still lying. “When he says he is no longer operating, I think he is just pretending,” Patrick said.
He added that the man has still not given him his money back, though in February he told the Randburg Sun he would. Furthermore, Patrick said he intends to acquire a driver’s licence the legitimate way.
Randburg police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johannes Maja said the Randburg police had not heard of an online advert for fake licences before, and because anyone can post information online, such adverts would probably be easy to post to the public.
Details: Randburg License Testing Station 011 793 3792; Randburg police 011 449 9000.
