In a sting operation to curb corruption and fraud involving driving license testing stations, eleven people including three officials from the department of community safety were arrested on Friday in Mpumalanga.
The RTMCs anti-corruption unit in conjunction with the tactical response team arrested the suspects including driving instructors at the Chief Albert Luthuli traffic department.
According to the RTMC, Mpumalanga has lost at least R574 million in corruption involving officials and driving school owners.
RTMC’s CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi said the arrests follow an ongoing investigation that commenced in 2015 where they have identified a number of loopholes in the system particularly people that are being issued with drivers license as well as roadworthy certificates.
“We arrested three foreign nationals, three examiners and two owners of driving schools, as well as three young kids who have been issued their driving licenses prior to their testing and some of them, have already acknowledged that they were told to start the vehicle and go outside.
We have identified that it has become a common phenomenon that foreign nationals get their driver’s licenses in this testing station, all the way from Durban, Johannesburg and throughout the country, hence we targeted to deal with this later,” he said
Msibi also added that more arrests are looming and said the suspects will be charged with fraud and corruption.
Last week, RTMC arrested eight officials from Standerton, Lekwa traffic department. Mpumalanga community safety media liaison officer, Zandile Mandlazi, confirmed that six officials were arrested and suspended.
“The department will commence with internal investigations and we will take disciplinary action against the officials once the investigations have been concluded,” she said.
In More News – Arrested for Fake Payslip
23-year-old Gugulethu Tony Ngoma was convicted of fraud and sentenced to six years imprisonment for faking a payslip.
Captain Matimba Maluleke, Hawks spokesperson said Ngoma bought a vehicle worth R300 000 at a vehicle dealership in Polokwane on 3rd April 2019, using what the Hawks say was a bogus payslip and bank statement to purchase the car.
He said the accused was traced and arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team at Kwaggafontein Court in Mpumalanga where he was appearing for another case.
Maluleke said the fraudulently bought car has already been recovered. read more
