This brings to 12 the number of officers who’ve been arrested, after the first seven were netted on Tuesday October 18.
The suspects made their first appearance in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court today (October 19), when their case was postponed for a bail application to October 25.
Operation Crocodile was aimed at clamping down on rogue traffic licensing officials selling drivers’ licences and learner’s licences at traffic departments.
The dozen officials have been charged with fraud and corruption.
Hawks spokesperson, Captain S’fiso Nyakane, said the 12 had allegedly pocketed many thousands of rands by selling licences to people who’d either failed their tests, or were desperate to obtain a driver’s licence but hadn’t undergone driving tests.
“Seven of the suspects were arrested while on duty and ‘the runners’ were arrested near the Benoni Traffic Department,” Nyakane added.
He said such greed by government officials shouldn’t be tolerated.
“How many people are driving with illegal drivers’ licences on our roads?”
“How many people have lost their lives because of greedy government officials who want a quick buck [while] – disregarding the safety of road users?” he concluded.
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