The recent crackdown on fraud and corruption at driving licence testing centres in Limpopo has led to the arrest of five more traffic officials at the Bela-Bela Driving Licence Testing Centre. This brings the total number of arrests in the region to 24, including driving licence examiners, administration clerks, and driving school instructors.
The operation, dubbed “the takedown,” has been a joint effort between the Hawks and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), with CEO Advocate Makhosini Msibi stating that it continues to yield positive results. The arrests at Bela-Bela follow previous operations at the Lephalale and Thabazimbi DLTCs, where a total of 19 suspects were apprehended.
The investigation, which began in 2021, has uncovered a scheme where officials were issuing learners and driver’s licences without following proper procedures in exchange for bribes. Msibi mentioned that more than 1300 applicants have been implicated in this criminal activity and will also face consequences for their involvement.
The five suspects arrested at Bela-Bela are set to appear in court soon, with seized gadgets being subjected to forensic analysis to aid the investigation. Msibi emphasized the importance of fighting fraud and corruption in the licensing system, highlighting the impact of incompetent drivers on road safety and the strain corruption puts on the state’s resources.
Brigadier Desmond Alexander of the Hawks in Limpopo commended the collaborative efforts between various law enforcement agencies in tackling this issue. The arrests serve as a step towards eliminating corruption in the licensing management in the Waterberg district of Limpopo, ultimately aiming to improve road safety and prevent unnecessary tragedies caused by incompetent drivers.
The crackdown on fraud and corruption at driving licence testing centres is a crucial step in upholding the integrity of the licensing system and ensuring that drivers on the road are competent and qualified. This ongoing operation serves as a reminder that corruption is a serious offense with far-reaching consequences, both for individuals and society as a whole.
