Lephalale: Five suspects are expected to appear in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo tomorrow on charges related to corruption at a licensing centre. The five were arrested in a joint operation by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC).
According to South African Government News Agency, the suspects are alleged to have issued learner’s and driver’s licences without following proper procedures, in exchange for bribes. The investigation, named Operation Combination, revealed several unlawful activities. After completing the investigations, the Hawks referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for a decision, which led to the authorization of warrants for the suspects’ arrest.
A joint operation between the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation and the RTMC was conducted, resulting in the successful arrest of the five suspects at the Lephalale Testing Station, which is managed by Lephalale Municipality. The Hawks and RTMC elaborated on the operation in a joint statement, underscoring the detrimental impact of fraudulent licensing on road safety.
Driving incompetence is identified as a major cause of road crashes in South Africa. The statement highlighted that errors made by incompetent drivers who obtained their licences fraudulently contribute significantly to road crashes and fatalities. It also emphasized that applicants who benefitted from these alleged corrupt practices must face legal consequences.