Cape Town — The Hawks and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) arrested an additional five traffic officials for fraud and corruption at the Bela-Bela Driving License Testing Centre (DLTC) on Wednesday.
The RTMC confirmed the extra arrests and said that a total of 24 examiners, admin clerks and driving school instructors have been arrested since Friday.
“Five traffic officials were arrested at Bela-Bela Driving Licence Testing Station today. This brings to 24 the total number of driving licence examiners, administration clerks and driving school instructors arrested at various testing centres since Friday,” it said on X.
According to The Citizen, RTMC CEO, Makhosini Msibi, said the ongoing takedown operation is yielding positive results. He confirmed that eight suspects were arrested in connection with fraud and corruption at Lephalale DLTC on Friday, while a further eight were arrested at Thabazimbi DLTC on Monday.
“This follows an intensive investigation launched in 2021 to identify officials and test stations who were issuing learners and driver’s licences without following proper procedures in return for gratification,” Msibi said.
Five traffic officials were arrested at Bela-Bela Driving Licence Testing Station today.
This brings to 24 the total number of driving licence examiners, administration clerks and driving school instructors arrested at various testing centres since Friday. #Corruption pic.twitter.com/6x7uXSu5xf
— Road Traffic Management Corporation (@TrafficRTMC) February 12, 2025
Msibi said gadgets believed to be helpful in the investigation were seized and will be subjected to forensic investigations.
The suspects were expected to appear in the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Msibi said the team was still busy with the operation to address fraud and corruption-related incidents in Limpopo. More than 1 300 applicants have been implicated in criminal activities.
According to SowetanLIVE, Msibi said the arrests would loosen the grip of corruption that led to mismanagement of licensing in the Waterberg District.
RTMC CEO Makhosini Msibi said the arrests would loosen the grip of corruption that was suffocating the management of licensing in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, leading to unnecessary deaths on the roads at the hands of incompetent drivers.
“Corruption is not a victimless crime. It robs the state of valuable resources and places a heavy burden on families who bury loved ones every weekend,” Msibi said.
Acting Hawks Head in Limpopo, Brigadier Desmond Alexander, applauded the work done by the Hawks, the RTMC and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to apprehend the suspects.
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Picture: X/@TrafficRTMC
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
