12 traffic cops in dock for issuing false licences
THE 12 traffic officials arrested by the Hawks for their alleged involvement in traffic offences such as the illegal issuing of learner’s and driving licences in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal are due in court today.
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said the arrests were part of the RTMC’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and Hawks’ clampdown on pre-festive season vehicle and driver licensing anti-corruption drive.
Zwane said the suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo on Friday on allegations of fraud and contraventions of the National Road Traffic Act. Seven of the suspects were arrested in Limpopo and five in KwaZulu-Natal.
He said all 12 are expected to apply for bail today after spending the weekend in police cells.
“The arrests followed raids conducted at private testing stations and a learner licence testing authority by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit jointly with the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks), the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Traffic Investigations Unit.
“Allegations against the Limpopo suspects, who include examiners of vehicles and a data capturer, are that they issued vehicle roadworthy certificates fraudulently to vehicles that they never physically inspected.”
Zwane said the Limpopo suspects are due to appear in the Musina Magistrate’s Court and Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court.
The five suspects arrested in KwaZulu-Natal are due to appear at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court.
The suspects include four examiners of learner licences employed in Underberg and a manager formerly employed at another learner licence centre in Howick.
“It is alleged that the suspects participated in fraudulent activities by unlawfully and irregularly assisting applicants to pass their learner licence tests. Scores of documents were confiscated in Underberg and they will be subjected to further investigations.”
Zwane said the four examiners –