The RTMC's new computerised testing system has led to a significant drop in learner license pass rates, revealing the extent of fraud in the system and raising concerns about road safety.
Image: Stock photo: Dumisani Dube
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has intensified its war against "licence for sale" syndicates, revealing that a shift to computerised testing has seen the national learner licence pass rate plummeted from 68% to 40%.
The drastic drop in successful applicants is being hailed by authorities as a victory for road safety, suggesting that thousands of previously "successful" learners may have been obtaining their credentials through fraudulent assistance rather than merit.
The computerised learner license testing system, first rolled out in 2021, was designed to eliminate the human element that fueled rampant corruption at testing centers.
Under the previous manual system, officials often knew which question papers were to be used, allowing them to sell answers to candidates beforehand. According to the RTMC, the new technology has effectively blinded corrupt officials.
"With the introduction of the new technology, question papers are randomly selected by the system, and officials have no way of knowing which question paper will be used beforehand," the corporation stated in a release on Thursday. "The system automatically allocates marks and determines whether the learner has answered correctly or not."
While the tech-driven approach has tightened the net, the RTMC admitted that "unrepentant officials" are already attempting to devise new ways to bypass the digital safeguards.
Law enforcement has recently made several arrests linked to these evolving schemes, and a forensic process is currently underway to identify individuals who may have benefited from these latest fraudulent methods.
The RTMC issued a stern warning to the public: paying for a pass is a criminal offense that carries life-altering consequences. "The RTMC warns aspirant vehicle learner drivers to desist from paying licensing officials to assist them to pass the tests," the statement read.
"Anyone found engaging would be arrested and would face criminal charges with severe consequences when found guilty."
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