The fraudulent driving licences issued at the Barkly West and Kimberley traffic stations will be declared null and void following the arrest of eight individuals allegedly involved in a syndicate.
THE FRAUDULENT driving licences issued at the Barkly West and Kimberley traffic stations will be declared null and void following the arrest of eight individuals allegedly involved in a syndicate.
The traffic officials and civilians who were arrested in connection with the alleged issuing of licences to unqualified drivers were released on bail this week by the Petrusburg Magistrate’s Court.
A spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RMTC), Simon Zwane, said that the investigation had started in 2023.
“Syndicates generally operate clandestinely without announcing themselves. It is therefore not possible to say when they started operating. Our information indicates that fraudulent licences were issued at the Barkly West and Kimberley licensing departments,” said Zwane.
He added that all fraudulently issued licences would be cancelled.
“Investigations are continuing and we hope they will reveal the estimated financial loss. Fraudulent licences contribute immensely to road accidents. The holders of these licences are susceptible to making fatal errors on the road because they do not know the rules. Innocent people can lose their lives in the process.”
Zwane called on employers to take internal disciplinary action against the implicated traffic officials.
Northern Cape and Free State National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane confirmed that the accused – Gaobusi Michael Motingwe, 51, Abraham Moeketsi Maleke, 61, Itumeleng Macdonald Seleke, 38, Thabo Michael Pitso, 54, Oarabile Babeile, 48, Sylvia Kelebogile Kaselela, 51, Grenvirre Ivon Cedras, 48, and Judith Matlhola, 54 – appeared in the Petrusburg Magistrate’s Court on October 28.
“They face numerous charges related to corruption and fraud,” said Senokoatsane.
He explained that the arrests were made during a multi-disciplinary, intelligence-led operation conducted jointly by the Free State Provincial Organised Crime Investigation, Trompsburg Crime Intelligence, RTMC, Tactical Response Team (TRT), Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Cyber Crime, and Physical and Electronic Surveillance units on October 24.
Senokatsane said the investigation was initiated in May 2023 to address the threat of fraud and corruption relating to the issuance of learner and driving licences at traffic department offices.
“The team investigated the identified syndicate to dismantle it and during the initial take-down operation, two civilians and five traffic department officials were arrested.”
He added that the operational team seized certain exhibits during the operation, which included a vehicle, an amount of cash that could not be accounted for, multiple traffic department documents, files and cellphones, for investigation purposes.
“The eight accused appeared in the Petrusburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of fraud, corruption, contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and other charges on October 28. More arrests are expected in this matter.”
A spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison, Rennie Andrias, stated that two of the accused were provincial traffic department officials working at Dikgatlong Municipality, while the others were employed by Sol Plaatje Municipality.
“We note with concern the arrest of our road traffic law enforcement officers who performed examiner duties at the Barkly West driving licence testing centre. The department will institute the necessary labour relations procedures as the employees were released on bail,” said Andrias.
“The arrest and bail conditions will hamper service delivery to the Dikgatlong community in the interim. All appointments that were not honoured on October 25 will be rescheduled. We apologise for the temporary interruption of services.”
He commended the relevant law enforcement agencies for rooting out fraud and corruption. “We will support the investigation and allow the rule of law to prevail,” he concluded.
Sol Plaatje Municipality had not responded to media enquiries by the time of publication.
