Examiners charged for fraud

IN a clampdown on fraudulent issuing of learner's licences, 11 people were arrested and appeared at Melmoth Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Of the 11, two were learner's licence examiners from Melmoth Licensing

Centre, while nine were suspects believed to have obtained their learner's licences fraudulently.

The two officials, Sabelo Biyela (44) and Sbonelo Buthelezi (49), were released on R5 000 bail each, with the remainder each granted R1 000 bail.

They were ordered to return to the same court on 24 January.

The nine suspects, aged 30 and 52, were arrested on Wednesday by Hawks members from the Durban Serious Corruption Investigation team working with Public Transport Enforcement and Traffic and Transport Inspection units.

They were charged with fraud and corruption.

Biyela and Buthelezi are accused of engaging in fraudulent and corrupt activities while executing their duties.

KZN Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Simphiwe Mhlongo alleged the duo acted for a common purpose and disregarded proper learner's licence writing procedures by allowing third parties to write on behalf of the applicants.

“It is believed applicants were paying them about R2 500 each between 2016 and 2017. The KZN Department of Transport is busy with the revocation of those licences that were obtained fraudulently. More arrests of applicants are imminent,” said Mhlongo.

Tip-off

The department received a tip-off about the allegations and an internal investigation was conducted.

“A case of fraud and corruption was reported at Melmoth Police Station.

The docket was allocated to the Hawks members for further investigation, and they were arrested,” said Mhlongo.

Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said his department has already cancelled the learner's licences of the accused.

“We have intensified monitoring at the Driver Licence Testing Centre to put an end to the fraudulent issuing of licences. The criminal syndicates operating in these centres usually include an examiner, driving school owners, and applicants,” he said.

In their efforts to eradicate corruption, Hlomuka said they are at an advanced stage in the regulation of driving schools, with their district and provincial structures.

“Part of the work is to control the mushrooming of driving schools, and ensure compliance and training of examiners.

“Part of our agreement with the driving schools is to ensure we eliminate this kind of behaviour, and we appeal to people to report such acts,” he said.