Page 23 - Claims Binders Mandates and Guidelines

Motor Claims Procedures
2.3 South African drivers licenses
It is estimated that about 10% (ten percent) of all South African driver’s licenses that are checked by Check my Driver, are fraudulent. We tend to categorise these as a medium risk.
Guidelines to consider when reviewing driver’s license requirements and regulations for driver’s license holders for both foreign and domestic drivers is from the National Road Traffic Act:
National Road Traffic Act, 1996 (Act No. 93 of 1996) Regulations National Road Traffic Regulations, 1999
Chapter V: Fitness of Drivers
Part II: Learner’s and driving licenses
110. Conditions for acknowledgement and exchange of driving license not issued in terms of the Act, and the international driving permit.
The below is a verbatim extract from the National Road Traffic Act:
1A) For the purpose of the sub- regulation (1) the phrase “not permanently or ordinarily resident in the Republic” means being outside the borders of South Africa for an uninterrupted period of more than three (3) months.
3) When the holder of a license referred to in section 23(1)(a) of the Act or the holder of an international driving permit referred to in section 23(1)(b) of the Act:
a) returns to the Republic to resume permanent residence, such license or permit shall no longer be deemed to be a valid license for the purposes of Chapter IV of the Act, if it becomes invalid in the country of territory of issue, or
b) obtains permission in terms of any law for permanent residence in the Republic, such license or permit shall no longer be deemed to be a valid license for the purposes of Chapter IV of the Act, if it becomes invalid in the country or the territory of issue.
Provided that the period of validity of such driving license shall not exceed a period of five (5) years from date when such a person is granted permanent residence status in the Republic.
2.4 Transporting of dangerous goods by foreign license holders
Transporting of dangerous goods for foreign license holders is most relevant for our Commercial business. Many SADC and other foreign PrDP/driver’s license documents do not specifically have dangerous goods training or D category PrDP, permitting them to transport dangerous goods. Swaziland, for example, only has G and P for Goods and Passengers and Zimbabwe’s defensive driving certificate training does not cover dangerous goods. These foreign driver’s license holders MUST, just like any South African driver’s license holder, be in possession of a valid genuine dangerous goods certificate issued by a TETA (Transport Education Training Authority) approved training centre here in South Africa. We have verified a lot of these certificates and many of these certificates prove to be fraudulent.
2.4.1 Medical requirements for Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV)/Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers
Medical requirements for HCV drivers should be covered in the insurer’s policy wording. Does our policy have any wording or request for medical requirements for HCV drivers? The below regulations from Zimbabwe address the medical requirements. There was recently a spike in questioning and verifying medical requirements within the insurance Industry.
“Every PSV driver is required by law to be examined by a government medical officer and to be issued with a medical certificate. The certificate is valid for a period of 1 (one) year. It is an offence to drive a PSV without a valid medical certificate. Central Vehicle Registry office also endorses the expiry date of the certificate at the back of the license disc after being satisfied by the genuineness of the examination.”
Specifically, where Zimbabwean drivers are concerned: The head registrar of the Central Vehicle Register of Zimbabwe, who is the only authorised issuing authority for Zimbabwean licenses have provided the below information for ease of reference:
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