Lephalale officers arrested for selling driver’s licences

Five traffic officers were arrested for issuing learners and driver’s licences without following proper procedures in return for tjotjo at Lephalale Test Station in Limpopo on Friday.

In 2021, the Hawks office of the Serious Corruption Investigation received complaints about the officials. An investigation was launched, and it was detected that several unlawful activities were conducted.

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After completing the investigations, the Hawks referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority [NPA] for decision.  Subsequently, warrants to arrest the suspects were authorised.

A joint operation between the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation and the RTMC was conducted. The team successfully arrested five suspects at Lephalale Testing Station which is managed by Lephalale Municipality on Friday.

LEPHALALE TEST STATION OFFICERS ARRESTED BY THE HAWKS FOR SOLICITING TJOTJO

The suspects are scheduled to appear in Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on 10 February 2025.  More arrests are imminent.

Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo Province Brigadier Desmond Alexander hailed the team for their excellent work.

Road Traffic Management Cooperation [RTMC] CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi also welcomed the arrest and said it will assist in making the roads safer.

“Evidence shows that errors made by incompetent drivers who obtained their licences fraudulently are a major contributor to road crashes and fatalities,” said Msibi.

Advocate Msibi said applicants who benefitted from these alleged corrupt practices must also face the full might of the law.