Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport Condemns Increasing Burglaries at Traffic Testing Stations
Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport strongly condemns the increasing number of burglaries at traffic testing stations, warning that these crimes could force closures and cause major delays in essential services like licensing and roadworthy tests, as criminals target vital public assets built with taxpayers’ money.
This stark warning from spokesperson Hillary Mophethe highlights a growing threat to road safety and community services in the province, where traffic testing stations play a key role in ensuring vehicles and drivers meet legal standards. The department’s statement, issued on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, calls on residents to report suspicious activities and stand united against crime, emphasising that unchecked burglaries harm everyone by disrupting daily life and compromising public safety. MEC Jabu Mbalula echoed these concerns, stressing that continued attacks may leave the department no choice but to shut down affected facilities, leading to long waits for licences, roadworthy certificates, and other important services. As South Africa grapples with rising crime rates, this issue in the Free State underscores broader challenges in protecting public infrastructure from syndicates and opportunists, with past incidents showing how such thefts can bring entire communities to a standstill.
The Department’s Strong Stance Against Crime
The Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport has made it clear that it will not tolerate the ongoing burglaries at traffic testing stations. In the statement, Mophethe described these facilities as “vital public assets” funded by taxpayers to promote road safety through services like driver’s licence issuance, vehicle roadworthy tests, and learner’s permits. “Criminal activities targeting these stations harm the entire community. If they continue unchecked, the Department may be forced to close affected traffic testing stations, leading to significant delays in critical services. This would ultimately impact road safety and affect communities the most,” she said.
Mbalula added: “If these crimes continue, traffic testing stations may have to close, causing long delays in issuing licences, roadworthy tests, and other important services.” The department issued a stern warning to perpetrators and those shielding them through silence, promising they will face the full force of the law. “Damaging public property is a serious offence, and all necessary legal actions will be taken against offenders,” Mophethe stated. The call for community vigilance is central to the response, with officials urging residents to report any suspicious behaviour to the police immediately. “By working together, we can protect our shared assets and ensure the continuation of essential services for everyone. Let’s stand united against crime – criminals will not win,” she concluded.
This is not the first time the province has faced such problems. In February 2023, a wave of burglaries led to the temporary closure of at least six traffic and licensing centres in towns like Edenburg, Odendaalsrus, Theunissen, Deneysville, Hobhouse, and Botshabelo. The Botshabelo centre, which serves a large number of motorists and is second only to the Lengau centre in the Mangaung Metro, was among those affected. The burglaries involved a syndicate stealing cables and essential equipment such as monitors, crippling operations and forcing motorists to travel to neighbouring towns for services. At the time, Mophethe announced plans to enhance security, including installing alarm systems connected to security company control centres and increasing police patrols. The closures were also linked to the establishment of the Inspectorate Unit, aimed at improving oversight. Motorists with expired learner licences, driving licence cards, temporary driving licences, and professional driving licences were advised to use alternative centres. The department promised to inform the public when the centres would reopen.
While no specific new incidents were detailed in the 2025 statement, the language suggests an escalation or persistence of the problem, prompting renewed calls for action. This ongoing issue reflects a broader trend in South Africa, where public infrastructure is increasingly targeted by criminal syndicates seeking valuable materials like copper cables and electronics. In September 2025 alone, similar burglaries have been reported in other provinces, such as the apprehension of suspects for a substation burglary in Lincoln Meade, KwaZulu-Natal, on 16 September, where cables were stolen. These crimes not only disrupt services but also cost taxpayers millions in repairs and lost revenue.
Impact on Road Safety and Communities
The burglaries pose a serious threat to road safety in the Free State, a province where traffic testing stations are essential for maintaining vehicle standards and driver competence. If closures occur, residents could face long delays in obtaining driver’s licences, learner’s permits, and roadworthy certificates, potentially leading to more unroadworthy vehicles on the roads and increased accident risks. The department’s statement notes that these facilities are “vital” for ensuring road safety through services that prevent unfit drivers and vehicles from endangering others. In 2023, during the previous closures, motorists had to travel to neighbouring towns, causing inconvenience and additional costs for fuel and time. For rural communities, this could mean hours of travel to the nearest operational centre, exacerbating inequalities in access to public services.
Road safety experts have long warned that disruptions in testing services contribute to higher crash rates. The Automobile Association (AA) estimates that unroadworthy vehicles are involved in thousands of accidents annually in South Africa, with Free State roads known for high fatality rates due to poor maintenance and driver errors. In the first half of 2025, NHTSA-like reports from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) showed a drop in traffic fatalities nationwide, but provinces like Free State still face challenges from cable theft and vandalism affecting traffic lights and signs. The burglaries at testing stations add to this, as delayed roadworthy tests allow unsafe vehicles to remain in circulation.
Communities are the hardest hit, as Mophethe pointed out. In towns like Botshabelo, which serves a large population, closures in 2023 left residents struggling, with some turning to illegal alternatives like fake certificates, further undermining safety. The department’s call for unity echoes national campaigns like Arrive Alive, which encourage reporting to combat infrastructure crime.
Government Response and Enhanced Security Measures
In response to the threats, the department is ramping up security at affected stations. From the 2023 incident, plans included installing alarm systems linked to security control centres and boosting police patrols. The establishment of the Inspectorate Unit was part of efforts to monitor and protect facilities. Mophethe’s 2025 statement suggests these measures are being reinforced, with a focus on legal action against offenders. The department’s website outlines its mandate to promote integrated crime prevention, including rural and school safety programmes. Collaboration with SAPS is key, as seen in recent operations like the raid on Kimberley Traffic Licence Department in October 2024 for fraudulent licences.
Nationally, similar issues have prompted responses, such as the DMV’s new laws in 2025 for vehicle safety in California, but in South Africa, the focus is on local enforcement. The RTMC has conducted operations in other provinces, like Limpopo in May 2025, arresting officials for fraud at testing stations. In Free State, the department’s strategic plan for 2020-2025 includes anti-human trafficking and crime prevention, which could extend to infrastructure protection.
Broader Crime Trends in South Africa
The burglaries fit into a larger pattern of crime targeting public infrastructure. A 2025 Semafor report noted burglary as the most widespread crime in South Africa, with the annual Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey showing high rates in Free State. The FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and local stats from SAPS indicate over 841 arrests for various offences in recent operations, including burglary. In urban areas, syndicates specialise in stealing equipment for scrap or resale, as seen in a 2025 study on urbanisation and crime.
Recent arrests, like the three for unlicensed firearms and drugs by the Anti-Gang Unit, show law enforcement’s response. In Free State, the SAPS has intensified festive season inspections, as posted on Instagram in December 2024.
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