On 17 March 2023 a joint intelligence led operation was carried out by Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team based in George, Crime Intelligence and Public Order Policing, members of the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) as well as the officials from the Department of Transport and Public Works.
The operation culminated in the arrest of two suspects employed at TJ Private Vehicle Testing Station for fraudulently issuing roadworthy permits to vehicles that are not roadworthy. A search and seizure operation was executed at Testing Station and two suspects aged 40 and 58, were arrested at their work place in George on charges of Fraud and Corruption.
The investigation into the alleged fraudulent activities at TJ Private Vehicle Testing Station emanate from a fatal accident involving a bus was issued with a roadworthy certificate few months before the incident that killed 14 school children in 2011.
The suspects will make their first appearance in the Tembalethu Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 20 March 2023.