Delmas licensing ring broken
A syndicate which has been operating at the Delmas driver testing station was broken today when members of the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) raided the station.
Three officials and two middlemen were arrested during the raid on allegations relating to the fraudulent issuing of motor vehicle driver’s licenses.
It is alleged that the middlemen pretended to be operating driving schools to lure driver’s licence applicants to use their services to obtain vehicle driving documents.
The so called driving schools were found to be non-existent and the middlemen exposed as people who allegedly facilitated the illegal sale of driving licenses by licensing officials.
It is believed that willing licence applicants travelled from other parts of the country to obtain their driving licences from this centre in exchange for a sum of R11 500 to R12 000.
Investigators estimate that the officials and their accomplices generated more than R60 000 a day through this racket.
Investigation are continuing and more suspects are expected to be arrested.
The arrested officials and their accomplices are expected to appear at the Delmas Magistrate’s court for a bail application tomorrow.
Today’s arrests are part of a national effort by law enforcement agencies to clean up the process of obtaining driver’s licences in the country and ensure that only competent drivers are allowed on South Africa’s roads.
Unfit drivers contributed ernomously to the high number of fatal crashes in the country.
Members of the public are urged to assist law enforcement agencies to address corruption by forwarding information to 0861 400 800. Information provided will be treated as strictly confidential.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
