Abandoned vehicle licensing

[Timmmy]

Hi All.

Some help on the East Rand would be appreciated.

I've come across an old vehicle I'm interested in restoring, problem is the owner has emigrated leaving the vehicle abandoned in a yard. Contacting the owner isn't a problem via email or whatever but he's not interested in coming back to SA any time soon so any documents requiring signatures will have to be digital or couriered to/from Indonesia.

Now the tricky bit, the current owner bought the vehicle to restore himself but never did the change of ownership but he says the previous owner has taken it off his name, which would make sense. I cannot contact the previous owner, current owner doesn't have his details anymore.

Is there any way forward from this? I've tried speaking to someone in the license dept but does anyone ever answer those lines?

 

[saturnz]

do you know the current status of the vehicle?

maybe the previous owner scrapped the car

also which vehicle is it?

 

[Timmmy]

It's a 1972 mini. General good condition, minimal rust, brake system has been completely refitted, new tyres, new battery, nothing done to the motor but its been standing for about 5 years outside.

How would I find that out? Can I take the papers to the dept if my names not on them?