‘Greedy’ cops hike licence bribery fees

PRETORIA. - Mpumalanga driving school owners have openly demonstrated against “greedy” traffic officials, who had planned to increase bribery fees from R1 700 to R2 000 per student in need of a driving licence.

The protest at the Mbombela Local Municipality offices in Mbombela on Friday saw the school owners preventing workers from entering the premises.

Community members were shocked that the protest was not against the bribes traffic officers demanded to produce favourable results for driving school students, but against the increment of the bribery fees.

“Isn’t it shocking that the bribery of traffic officials has become legal? The protesters themselves are guilty of a crime. They, and corrupt traffic officials, belong behind bars,” said one motorist.

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC, Vusi Shongwe, expressed concern over the nature of the protest. “We have noted recent allegations by some driving school owners. We strongly condemn corruption in the licensing environment. We encourage communities, including driving school owners to report malfeasance,” said Shongwe. In the past two months, eight Mbombela traffic officials were arrested and charged with fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to R60 million. They are all out on R15 000 bail .