Used car scam warning
South Africa has become the dumping ground for thousands of grey imported vehicles
that leave Japan as "scrap" destined for Southern African Development
Community countries. Some of them have been known to cause major accidents.
In 2004 alone, police recorded that 80 000 vehicles were imported via Durban
harbour destined for Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique. Department
of Transport Motor Services Manager Sue Grobbelaar said: "Of these, 7 000
were listed as 'suspect' with Interpol (as stolen vehicles)."
Grobbelaar said there was no record to prove that most of these vehicles had
ever crossed our borders to reach their final destination in neighbouring countries,
where it is mostly legal to own second-hand imports.
This emerged after Namibia partially banned the import of Japanese used cars
older than five years - an act that has left hundreds of cars ordered by Namibians
stranded in Durban.
Referring to the situation on local roads, KZN Road Traffic Inspectorate head
John Schnell said that South Africa had become a "dumping ground"
for vehicles that could not pass roadworthy tests overseas.
"A lot of these dodgy vehicles end up on our roads and are involved in
accidents. Some have been imported trucks from America," Schnell said.
Grobbelaar said drivers of the grey imports involved in accidents often disappeared
from the scene of and could not be traced. At least one South African had been
left in a wheelchair after an accident involving such a vehicle at Mooi River.
Grobbelaar said it was illegal for South Africans to possess second-hand imported
vehicles.
Provincial Department of Transport Minister Bheki Cele was not available for
comment. However, Grobbelaar confirmed his department was taking "drastic
action" over the grey imports.
"We are going to clamp down on these imports that are illegally travelling
on our roads (having been) resold to our public. (Buyers) can have them taken
away because the relevant customs and duties have not been paid," Grobbelaar
said.
Negotiations had been under way for some time with the Department of Trade
and Industry, SARS, Customs and Excise and Business Against Crime to establish
a vehicle testing station at Durban Harbour where vehicles could be checked
with Interpol and for "street-legalness". She said the vehicles could
not be certified as roadworthy as they had not been built to SA standards.
Commissioned by the Department of Transport, Business Against Crime has been
investigating the illegal imports for the three years.
Business Against Crime expert Lee Dutton says that a few hundred vehicles had
been left stranded in Durban following the partial ban. It became effective
from January 1.
He said a further 900 in-transit vehicles were stranded in Namibia following
a similar ban in Angola.
Apart from South Africa, which had been clamping down on imports, the vehicles
were killing the second-hand market in the entire SADC region by undermining
resale values, he said.
Dutton said many second-hand luxury imported vehicles like 4x4s were stolen
in the United Kingdom, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Namibian Trade and Industry Ministry said it was banning vehicles older
than five years from outside the Southern African Customs Union to stamp out
tax evasion, ensure after-sales service, protect the environment and promote
road safety.
Established car dealers with South African links, who had seen a slump in business
due to the import of the Japanese "greys", had lobbied the government
to put a stop to these imports. Importers had pleaded with the government to
give them more time to land the cars which had been ordered.
What to look out for
Business Against Crime advised consumers yesterday that they particularly needed
to check the legality of the following imported second-hand models sold on the
local market. These are among the most popular vehicles imported for export
to SADC countries but illegally sold in South Africa:
1500 Corolla, Hilux Surf, Lexus Signus (Landcruiser), Toyota Corsa, Toyota
Carina, Nissan ZX, Corolla Limited Edition, Landcruiser VX Limited 100 Series,
Honda Accord, Hiace Townace, Hiace 4x4, Pajero Shogun, Rav 4, Toyota Camry (specifically
not the shapes offered in South Africa), Suzuki Acude, Toyota Prado Grande,
Toyota Crown, Honda Civic, Isuzu Rodeo, Suzuki Samurai, Mitsubishi GTO, Ford
Transit van, Nissan Starlit, Coaster Bus, Ascudo, Nissan Vanette, Toyota Vista,
Toyota Ceres, Toyota Selica, Toyota Ferio, Soarer, Marino, Isuzu Big Horn, Hiace
Super Custom, Mirage.
The following finishes help in the identification of certain imported models:
Unusual mirrors - front right hand and rear overhang mirrors; Japanese tyre
pressure and other sticker warnings; dealership stickers and radiator trims.
Ask for a written guarantee that the vehicle has been legally imported.
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