Five arrested in licence fraud syndicate
Investigations are continuing and more suspects are expected to be arrested.
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A syndicate operating at a driver testing station in Delmas was dismantled on Monday during a raid by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the Hawks.
Three officials and two middlemen were arrested and charged with the alleged fraudulent issuing of motor vehicle driver’s licences.
“It is alleged that the middlemen pretended to be operating driving schools to lure driver’s licence applicants to use their services to obtain vehicle driving documents.
“The middlemen [were] exposed as people who allegedly facilitated the illegal sale of driving licences by licensing officials.
“It is believed that willing licence applicants travelled from other parts of the country to obtain their driving licences from this centre in exchange for a sum of R11 500 to R12 000,” said RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane in a statement.
Investigators estimate that the officials and their accomplices generated more than R60 000 a day through the racket.
“Investigations are continuing and more suspects are expected to be arrested,” Zwane said.
The arrested officials and their accomplices are expected to appear at the Delmas Magistrate’s Court today for a bail application.
“[Monday’s] arrests are part of a national effort by law enforcement agencies to clean up the process of obtaining driver’s licences in the country and ensure that only competent drivers are allowed on South Africa’s roads,” said Zwane.
Unfit drivers, he said, contributed enormously to the high number of fatal crashes experienced on the country’s roads.
Members of the public are urged to assist law enforcement agencies to address corruption by forwarding information to 0861 400 800. Information provided will be treated as strictly confidential.