National Traffic Anti-Corruption unit in collaboration with Crime Intelligence; together with Organised Crime units of South African Police Services (SAPS) in the Free State; have today arrested eight licencing officials and agents during a crackdown operation on driving licence fraud and corruption.
The bust was conducted simultaneously on three sites in Petrusburg (Free State), Barkley West and Kimberly in the Northen Cape. It is alleged that the agents were recruiting learner and driving licence applicants in the Free State Province and liaising with departmental officials and licensing authorities in the Northern Cape to have licences issued with the applicants not undergoing the required process of testing.
This comes after an intelligence driven operation named “COMMANDO” uncovered entrenched fraud and corruption that extends to small rural towns on the countryside.
A vehicle that the agents allegedly used to commit the crime was seized as part of evidence.
The RTMC CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi welcomed the arrests and said that; they reflect government’s relentless efforts to weed out corruption at licensing centres and within traffic law enforcement. This success followed on the arrest of four (4) suspects who were allegedly producing fake vehicles licence discs and operator cards in Mtubatuba, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Last month (28) licensing officials and driving school operators were arrested in Mpumalanga and (11) in Limpopo on corruption and related charges. Advocate Msibi has congratulated the investigators for doing their best to eliminate threats that undermine safety on the roads. “Our Officers must intensify their work as we approach the festive season to assist the country to reduce factors that lead to road crashes and fatalities”, he said.
Members of the public are encouraged to report fraud and corruption on (083) 293-7989 or by emailing: Ntacu@rtmc.co.za
RTMC Anti-Corruption Unit dismantle a syndicate operating in Kimberly on fraudulent driving licences https://t.co/08IzhjErTA#ArriveAlive #FraudulentDrivingLicences #Syndicate @TrafficRTMC pic.twitter.com/VmcAA0wfiJ
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 25, 2024
