MBOMBELA- Corruption in law enforcement does not only dent the image of law enforcement fraternity but it also endangers the lives of road users.
Not only is corruption a challenge but perceptions that it somehow exists especially in traffic law enforcement affects government’s efforts to enhance and sustain road safety, therefore those who are involved should be severely punished.
These are the sentiments of Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe who was responding to the arrest of a traffic officer in the department.
Michael Mohlala, a traffic officer was arrested on Sunday at Middelburg Weigh Bridge on the allegations that he attempted to solicit a bribe of R800 from a motorists at the weigh bridge.
Read: Traffic officer released on R3 000 bail
The department is looking into suspending the official in order to enable internal process to unfold.
“While not pre-empting on the outcome of the processes at hand, it is disturbing that while the majority of traffic officers and other law enforcers are hard at work, others would compromise all their hard work by requesting bribes.
Such tendencies need to stop because it discourages communities to work with traffic officers and police for enhancement of road safety. The enormity of road crashes in the country is still high and therefore those who are not honest when executing are not assisting government to bring down this disturbing numbers.
We are also appealing to the community at large and road users not to bribe law enforcement officers but to instead report them to the authorities so that they are brought to book and face the consequences of their actions,” added MEC Shongwe.
The MEC further encouraged traffic officers not to be discouraged by a few individuals whose integrity levels are low but to instead work hard for the benefit of road safety in the province. He said they should rather expose those who are corrupt among themselves. He has however applauded the police for swiftly bringing the suspect to book.
Read: Traffic officers off the hook for now
