New technology is being rolled out across licence testing centres in Gauteng in an attempt to fight fraud and corruption.<\/p>\n
A new electronic system for learner’s licence tests had replaced the booklet system at eight testing centres in the province, transport MEC Ismail Vadi said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Candidates now wrote their test electronically and received the results immediately, Vadi told reporters in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
The system could randomly select from 1000 questions while applicants were busy writing the test.<\/p>\n
He said the previous system had been easy to manipulate.<\/p>\n
Driving schools had had access to the test books, and some had even prepared answers for their clients.<\/p>\n
“You came here almost briefed and knowing the answers by heart,” Vadi said.<\/p>\n
“We now have a computerised system with over 1000 questions. These are processed automatically, so not the examiner or any other official is aware what the computer will generate as a question.”<\/p>\n
Vadi said the number of applicants and the pass rate had already dropped at the Xavier Junction Licence and Testing Centre in Ormonde, Johannesburg.<\/p>\n
Since the system was introduced the number of applicants had dropped from 1400 to 300 “and the pass rate has come down substantially”.<\/p>\n
“The quality has helped to reduce fraud and corruption because nobody can manipulate it any more,” Vadi said.<\/p>\n
He believed the reduction in pass rates would mean that those who obtained their licences were competent.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, a licence examiner at the Xavier Junction Licence and Testing Centre was arrested for processing the application of a person who had failed.<\/p>\n
Vadi said the examiner apparently processed a driver’s licence even though the applicant failed to control his vehicle on an incline.<\/p>\n
“He ignored that fact and took the driver out for test and came back to process [the] licence. He [the examiner] was arrested and the licence revoked,” he said.<\/p>\n
He was caught by inspectors who were carrying out inspections at the station as part of transport month.<\/p>\n
Vadi said inspectors would continue to hold inspections across the country.<\/p>\n
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