Three officials of the City of Mbombela and Mbombela and White River traffic departments were arrested in connection with a R60m fraud, theft and money laundering case this morning, September 14.
The arrests were made by the Mbombela-based Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) in Mbombela and White River.
In a statement by the Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, the total number of arrests for this case now stands at nine.
“Their arrest followed an investigation carried over from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) during December 2018,” said Sekgotodi.
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She said it had been reported that employees of the Mbombela and White River traffic departments were extending expired vehicle discs to the owners.
During the investigation by the Hawks it was established that the cashiers at the departments had colluded with the motorists after they saw that certain trucks owed a large amount of money on their disks.
“Officials would then manipulate the system and extend the expiration dates of the vehicle licence discs and reissue the new disc that showed zero balance. The truck owners would pay the money meant for the department to the officials for their own benefit, which is called money dumping, amounting to R60m.”
She said the other six accused are Thembi Millicent Motlohi (43), a former member of the department of community safety’s section help desk, Allman Thabani Masuku (35), Xoliswa Celia Ngcelwane (52), Nompulelo Winnie Nxumalo (44), Agnes Nosipho Ndzinisa (54) and Mbombela Registry authority’s Nkosinathi Samuel Gumede (37).
These six were arrested in a joint operation by the Mbombela Hawks, RTMC, the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the SIU on Monday July 18.
The accused were released on R15 000 bail each and the case was postponed to September 29 for further investigation.
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The three officials who were arrested today are expected to appear in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Friday September 16.
Sekgotodi said more arrests were imminent.
The Mpumalanga Hawks head Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the collaboration of the investigators from different law enforcement agencies including those who ensured that the investigation was finalised and placed before court.
She further warned those who are still busy with corruption that their days are numbered and the Hawks will not leave any stone unturned in the ongoing investigation.
