Officials at vehicle licensing and testing stations around Johannesburg have been arrested on charges of registering more than 700 stolen vehicles, Joburg's Metro Police said yesterday.

Officials at vehicle licensing and testing stations around Johannesburg have been arrested on charges of registering more than 700 stolen vehicles, Joburg's Metro Police said yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said two cashiers and two supervisors at the Langlaagte testing station, a supervisor at the Midrand testing station, a supervisor at the Marlboro testing station and a clerk who had since resigned had been held.

They had allegedly illegally registered 721 stolen cars in Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

"It was a highly secretive operation," said Minnaar of the investigation.

The seven are set to appear in the Jo'burg magistrate's court next Wednesday to confront the evidence from the three-year-long probe.

Minnaar said authorities would also try to trace the original owners of the stolen vehicles. - Sapa