The net is closing in on corrupt government personnel. On Wednesday morning, three traffic department officials were arrested in Mpumalanga for licensing fraud.
The officials were arrested in connection with the R60 million motor vehicle licence fee dumping corruption in Mbombela and White River.
Hawks Mpumalanga spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said two suspects were arrested at Mbombela Municipality’s traffic department, and one was arrested at the White River traffic department.
“They will be charged, detained and appear at Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on 15 September 2022. The successful operation was conducted by Hawks Nelspruit-based serious commercial crime investigation and Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) from Gauteng. The operation was successful,” Sekgotodi.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said this arrest of the three, brings to nine the number of officials arrested in connection with this illicit practice.
Six administrators were arrested in July and are out on bail.
Zwane said the three officials work as clerks in different registering authorities in Mpumalanga.
“It is alleged that four suspects colluded with administrators who worked at the help desk of the department of community safety and liaison, to conduct illicit transactions that cost the state a loss of R60 million in unpaid license fees and penalties,” said Zwane.
Zwane said the arrests followed an extensive investigation involving the RTMC’s National Anti-Corruption Unit, the Hawks, and the Special Investing Unit.
“The investigation that took place between 2018 and 2019, the suspects manipulated the eNatis system to assist motor vehicle owners to avoid payment of vehicle licence fees and penalties owed to the state.
“Their modus operandi involved changing the ownership of affected motor vehicles into the name of an unsuspecting individual, a deceased person or dormant company. Fees and arrears penalties will then be passed on the unsuspecting individual or companies before vehicle ownership is changed back to the rightful owner without any debt.
In some instances, fees were dumped onto government vehicles by using a GG authority code,” Zwane said.
He said the suspects are expected to face 603 charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering when they appear in court tomorrow.
The six suspects: Thembi Milicent Zulu-Motlohi, Agnes Nozipho Ndzinisa, Xoliswa Ngcelwane, Nompumelelo Winny Nxumalo, Allman Masuku and Nkosinathi Gumede, who were arrested in July, are expected to return to court on September 29. They are:
“More arrests are also expected to be made in relation to the Fochville investigation in Gauteng,” he said.
Zwane said seven suspects including four driving licence examiners, a driving school operator and two driving licence applicants were arrested last week, allegedly for colluding to fraudulently issue driving licences.
“It is alleged that a syndicate operating from the local driving licence centre has been recruiting driving licence applicants from as far as Cape Town to obtain driving licences without even sitting for the required tests,” Zwane said.
He said the investigations are continuing and additional suspects have been identified and will be arrested soon.
ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za
The Star