The procedure is in the K53 manual.
Section 42
Sec 42. Certification of roadworthiness required in respect of motor vehicle
(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle which is not in a roadworthy condition on a public road.
(2) No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public road unless the requirements in respect of a certification of roadworthiness contemplated in subsection (4) in relation to such motor vehicle are complied with, and except in accordance with the conditions of such certification of roadworthiness.
(3) No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public road unless the requirements in respect of a roadworthy certificate contemplated in subsection (4) in relation to such motor vehicle are complied with, and except in accordance with the conditions of such roadworthy certificate.
(4) Subject to this Chapter—
(a) the classes of motor vehicles requiring certification of roadworthiness and the classes of motor vehicles requiring roadworthy certificates;
(b) the period of validity of certification of roadworthiness and roadworthy certificates;
(c) the examination of motor vehicles;
(d) the certification of roadworthiness and issue of roadworthy certificates; and
(e) any other aspect regarding certification of roadworthiness and roadworthy certificates which the Minister may deem necessary or expedient, shall be as prescribed.
(5) Any document issued by a competent authority in a prescribed territory relating to any vehicle registered in such prescribed territory and serving a similar purpose to that of certification of roadworthiness or a roadworthy certificate shall, in accordance with the conditions thereof but subject to this Act, be regarded to be certification of roadworthiness or a roadworthy certificate relating to any such vehicle registered in the prescribed territory for the purpose of subsection (2) or (3), as the case may be.
K 53 – Pre-trip inspection – it is part of the National Road Traffic Regulations.
3.1 Pre-trip inspection
The examiner should inform the applicant that the exterior and interior pre-trip inspections, as well as the yard test, should be completed within 20 minutes.
Exterior (Module 1)
(a) The examiner must accompany the applicant to his vehicle to conduct a pre-trip exterior inspection prior to entering the vehicle.
(b) Should the vehicle be considered unroadworthy the examiner will specify this in the appropriate section of the test report and make a cross in the fail square and discontinue the test.
Interior (Module 2)
(a) The examiner must request the applicant to enter the vehicle and operate the lights, direction indicators, wipers and horn.
(b) Should any item be inoperative, the vehicle is unroadworthy. The examiner will record it as such in the appropriate section of the test report, make a cross in the fail square and discontinue the test.
(c) The examiner will get into the vehicle and request the applicant to proceed with the pre-trip inspection.
Trailer Insurance in South Africa
The driver is responsible.
The driver is operating the vehicle and trailer. The person who takes the vehicle on the road is responsible for the operation.
See the definitions of –
“operate on a public road” or any like expression, in relation to a vehicle, means to use or drive a vehicle or to permit a vehicle to be used or driven on a public road, or to have or to permit a vehicle to be on a public road;
“roadworthy”, in relation to a vehicle, means a vehicle which complies with the relevant provisions of this Act and is otherwise in a fit condition to be operated on a public road;