Mpumalanga licencing officials slapped with hefty fines for multi-million rand fraud

Four Standerton licensing officials have been sentenced to hefty fines or imprisonment in connection with multiple counts of fraud committed at the local registering authority between 2013 and 2019, which cost the Mpumalanga provincial government millions of rand.

The officials appeared in the Middelburg Regional Court on Wednesday.

Fraud

The four are part of the eight officials who were handcuffed in August 2019 following investigations that uncovered a scam used by officials to fraudulently dump heavy motor vehicle licence fees, arrears, and penalties thus enabling operators to avoid payment.

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It is understood that a bogus vehicle dealership had been created to perpetrate their crimes which cost the Mpumalanga provincial government R4 million in lost revenue.

Joyce Smangele Selepe, Ida Vangile Mdluli, Thembi Mavuso, and Mduduzi Robert Nkutha pleaded guilty to multiple charges of fraud.

Sentences

Selepe, who pleaded guilty to 30 counts of fraud, was sentenced to R80 000 fine or five years imprisonment and a further five years suspended for five years.

Mdluli pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and was sentenced to R30 000 fine or two years imprisonment and a further two years imprisonment suspended for five years.

Mavuso was sentenced to R50 000 fine or three years imprisonment and a further three years imprisonment suspended for five years. Nkutha was sentenced to R30 000 fine or two years imprisonment and a further two years was suspended for five years.

Warning to others

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) spokesperson Simon Zwane said the remaining four accused are scheduled to appear in court on 10 May 2023.

“The Road Traffic Management Corporation welcomes the sentences and warns others who are involved in fraud and corruption that the long arm of the law will ultimately catch up with them”

Zwane has urged members of the public to report fraud and corruption to the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit.

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