They often only find out that they had an unqualified driver behind the wheel after an accident when the Insurance Company repudiates the claim, or worse, the SAPS investigate why the unlicensed driver was allowed to drive. We have found that fleet operators rarely go to the trouble of verifying the validity of driving documents provided by foreign drivers. The number of heavy commercial vehicle drivers from neighbouring states being granted work permits is on the increase, there are over 22,500 from Zimbabwe alone.
We all should know that it is a requirement of the National Road Traffic Act – 93 of 1996 that in order to drive a vehicle on our roads, the driver be in possession of a Valid Driver’s License for the class of vehicle and where required, a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) or the equivalent document from any SADC country.