Seven Gauteng officials sentenced for corruption

JOHANNESBURG – The seven are part of the 27 officials who were arrested in 2012 following an investigation by a task team set up by the National Department of Transport in 2011 which comprises of ATS Africa Consulting, SAPS Commercial Crime unit and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.

The establishment of a task team came as a result complaints received from whistle blowers of fraud and corruption in the issuing of roadworthy certificates in vehicle testing stations around the country.

The seven are Mapule Baloyi (31), Thembinkosi Ngwenya (34), Manuel Maathavan Nagan (43) from Booysen Vehicle Testing Station; others are Louis Thokozane Hlongwane (35), Elias Mabonela (59), Matlake Samuel Khanya (61) from Hamberg Vehicle Testing Station in Alberton and David Marakallo Modisane (30) from Supreme Vehicle Testing Station in Pretoria respectively.

The three officials from Booysens were sentenced on March 14 to two years imprisonment with an option of R20 000 fine. The Hamberg officials received the same sentence with the exception of Louis Thokozane Hlongwane who received a suspended sentence.

They were sentence on March 20. David Marakallo Modisane received a two year imprisonment sentence with an option of R2 000 fine. He was sentenced on March 18. They were all sentenced at the Johannesburg Commercial Crime Court.

The amount involved in all these cases is estimated at R4 800 000, and the department is in consultation with the Department of Transport and Asset Forfeiter Unit of the South African Police Service to do the following;

• Blacklist their practice number in order for them not to find employment in the same environment again.
• Seizure of property

“I applaud the law enforcement agencies involved in the arrest and ultimately sentencing of these perpetrators and stopping them on their tracks.

“This demonstrates our unwavering zeal to root out fraud and corruption more especially in pursuit of ensuring safety on our roads. 

“This will go a long way in sending a strong message to other officials that we don’t tolerate corruption and we would not hesitate to act harshly to anyone who commits such heinous crime.

“By issuing a fraudulent roadworthy certificate they are putting other road users’ lives in danger,” said MEC Mazibuko.