Cape Town — The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said corrupt traffic officers are a leading reason why so many motorists misbehave on the roads.
This comes after the RTMC’s Anti-Corruption Unit along with South African Police Services (SAPS) arrested 11 traffic officers in Limpopo for allegedly taking bribes from bus and taxi drivers, as well as motorists driving along the N1 highway between Polokwane and Musina, SA Gov News reported.
RTMC spokesperson, Simon Zwane, said the suspects have been under investigation since March 2022 as part of an undercover operation called @coconut@ where law enforcement officials were involved in unethical conduct on the N1.
He said the investigation revealed that officials were abandoning their duties to carry out corrupt activities.
“It is alleged that the officers stopped motorists and conducted inspections, but they would demand bribes instead of issuing a traffic fine when they found faults with the vehicles or driving licences,” Zwane said.
Zwane said the operation was done to investigate the commission over any offences conducted. The suspects were set to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court amid charges of defeating the ends of justice, extortion and solicitation of bribes. He added that more arrests could not be ruled out.
BREAKING NEWS: The RTMC has today arrested 11 traffic officials relating to N1 highway corruption from Polokwane to Musina. pic.twitter.com/xk5X6hXAP3
— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) September 6, 2024
According to SABC News, Zwane hoped the arrests of the officers would deter other officers from engaging in corrupt activities in the future and do their job of making sure motorists obey the rules of the road.
“The conduct of these traffic officers contributes to a culture where drivers don’t respect the rules of the road because they know they can buy their way out so with this arrest we are sending the message that when traffic officers are sent out to the road, they must stick to what they are supposed to do which is to ensure that all motorists obey the rules of the road,” Zwane said.
Traffic authorities are going to ensure that internal disciplinary measures are adhered to as well.
“We will start with our disciplinary processes, we will wait to see what happens, they will probably get bail and we can take our processes further,” Stephen Matjena, HOD at the Traffic Department, said.
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Picture: X/@TrafficRTMC
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
