Times Of Swaziland: GOVT WANTS 294 VEHICLES FORFEITED TO THE STATE

GOVT WANTS 294 VEHICLES FORFEITED TO THE STATE
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 BY SENZO DLAMINI on 18/03/2014 04:27:00


MBABANE – The government has filed an application to have close to 300
vehicles in different regions of the country forfeited to the State. The
vehicles, according to the application, will be forfeited in terms of Section 22
(2) of the Theft of Motor Vehicles Act 16/1991.
Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta was reported to have
said once the vehicles had been forfeited, they would be crushed.
According to Assistant Superintendant Sandile Thomo in his founding affidavit, a
notice for the owners of the vehicles was given in the Swaziland Government
Gazette and newspapers on November 15,  2013 calling on all prospective owners
and possessors of motor vehicles to lodge their claims with the National
Commissioner of police.
The vehicles, according to the affidavit, are parked at different police
stations, in particular the Lobamba Security Yard.
Thomo said government notified their counterparts both in the Republic of South
Africa and Mozambique as some of the motor vehicles had registration numbers
reflecting that they were from these countries.
“Therefore, I am advised, which advice I readily accept and respectfully
submit, that there are no prospects of any of the possible claims being laid
against the motor vehicles in question, when considering the length of time that
has since lapsed following the publications aforesaid,” Thomo said.
He submitted that government had fully complied with the law in as far as
publication of notice was concerned, and that in the exercise of its discretion,
the court must order the motor vehicles be forfeited to the State.
He said no individual would suffer any prejudice in having the motor vehicles
forfeited to the State because none had taken any further steps in lodging a
claim with the national commissioner.
A total of 294 vehicles, which are based in different police stations in the
four regions of the country, will be crushed and destroyed if they remain
unclaimed.
Manzini region has the highest number of unclaimed vehicles as there are 119
vehicles in total. Lubombo follows with 86 vehicles and Hhohho 60 vehicles.
Shiselweni has only 29 unclaimed motor vehicles.
Some of the vehicles were impounded by the police a few years back, as they
still spot the old number plates. The vehicles include sedans, trucks, vans,
motorbikes and minibuses and they are of different makes including Toyota,
Isuzu, Nissan, Mazda, VW, Ford, Mercedes Benz and many others.