Traffic officers and vehicle examiners in Limpopo arrested for bribery
Seven traffic officers and four vehicle examiners have been arrested in a pre-festive season crackdown on bribery and corruption in Limpopo.
Members of the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s national traffic anti-corruption unit, the Hawks and Special Investing Unit pounced on four traffic officers employed by the Limpopo traffic department in Thohoyandou today. Three other traffic officers employed by the Makhado municipality were also arrested in the same operation.
The seven have been detained at Thohoyandou police station and will appear in court tomorrow on allegations that they have been taking bribes from motorists in the Vhembe district.
This follows the arrest of four examiners from a privately owned vehicles testing station on Monday (25 November 2019). The four who are employed by Maanda-Ashu vehicle testing station are facing allegation that they certified vehicle as roadworthy without conducting the necessary tests on the vehicles.
In one instance, a vehicle that had been impounded by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department was certified as roadworthy while it was parked in the police pound. The arrests mark the culmination of a yearlong investigation initiated following public complaints.
Corruption by traffic officers and licensing officials is one of the factors behind the high rate of road traffic crashes and fatalities in the country. Limpopo province is one of the regions with the highest number of fatalities.
1 581 deaths were recorded in this province last year making it one of the four provinces that contributed 63.9% of road fatalities. The other provinces that contributed a high number of road deaths were Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape.
Members of the public to assist by reporting suspected bribery, fraud and corruption on 0861 400 800 or by emailing ntacu@rtmc.co.za.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane: Spokesperson
Cell: 082 551 9892
Tel: 012 999 5200
