The MEC responsible for Roads and Transport, Lehlogonolo Masoga has welcomed the arrests of four people in connection with the issuing of fraudulent licensing documents. The intervention Unit within the Department of Roads and Transport working together with the Polokwane Municipality have been investigating the fraudulent issuing of licensing documents for the past four months in Polokwane.
During the preliminary investigations two people were arrested by the Unit and were handed over to the Hawks. In a combined operation which included the Hawks, SAPS, TRT and the Department’s Intervention Unit various properties in Seshego, Mmotong, Bloodrivier, Perskebult and Mmakgodu were raided last night and four people were apprehended.
During the operation various face value documents, including registration certificates, temporary driving licences, licence disks, E-NATis printouts, identity document, clean ID front page documents, cellphones, laptop, printer, stamps and various other documents were confiscated. The four civilians who were arrested are not employed by the Department of Roads and Transport or the Municipality.
Masoga described these arrests as a major boost in the department’s drive to rid corruption in the issuing of licensing documents. He said: “We are very pleased by these arrests. We are convinced that these arrests will send a strong message to would be fraudsters that they will face harsh consequences by issuing and distributing fraudulent licensing documents.”
He warned cartels who are behind these heinous crimes that they have no place to operate in the licensing industry. “Fraudulent documents lead to unfit drivers and unroadworthy vehicles on our roads. We cannot afford to lose innocent lives on our roads because of criminals who are only interested in enriching themselves at the expense of our people,” warned Masoga. He called on the intervention unit together with all law enforcement agencies to continue working hard in ridding out corruption in the issuing of licensing documents.
The Department of Roads and Transport despises corruption and fraud in its operation. The department is confident that as the investigations continue more arrests will be made and that fraud and corruption will eventually be rooted out of the system.
For further enquiries
Roads and Transport spokesperson, Joshua Kwapa
Cell: 079 185 7958/ 082 049 9667
Tel: 015 295 1224
E-mail: kwapaj@drt.limpopo.gov.za
