Four licensing officers arrested for fraud will again appear in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court on September 17.
They were released on R5 000 bail each on July 19.
The three senior clerks and a cashier, Sizakele Magagula, Samuel Gold, Monica Sefuku and Simphiwe Lesotho were arrested at the Benoni Licensing Department on July 18.
Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said the four officials, aged between 37 and 44, were arrested on allegations that they conspired with motorists to defraud the state of hundreds of thousands of rands in motor vehicle license fees.
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“The three females and male colluded with motorists to clear outstanding vehicle license fees and penalties by irregularly registering vehicles in the names of unsuspecting individuals or deceased persons and then re-registering same vehicles in the name of the original owner,” said Zwane.
“In this way fees payable by the original owner are dumped on the unsuspecting individual or deceased person and the officials would receive a bribe for conducting these fictitious transactions.”
This comes after months of investigations in which the transactions conducted by the four suspects were carefully analysed.
Zwane said it is believed that the state loses millions of rands annually in license fees and penalties through this unethical conduct.
“Suspected transactions include mainly the registration of light passengers and heavy load vehicles.”
RTMC is investigating and they urge members of the public who have information about this unlawful practice and any other corrupt activity in traffic law enforcement to call 0861 400 800 to report.
All information provided will be treated as strictly confidential.
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