LIMPOPO – The uncovering of these fines was through the Department’s Anti-Fraud and Corruption Unit. Disciplinary action has been instituted against one official.
The investigation and the breakthrough followed information about revenue lost at various traffic stations at district offices.
According to the information, officials such as contravention officers, traffic officers and revenue officers were collecting postal orders from various post offices in the province for various traffic stations.
They would then redeem the postal orders, but fail to deposit the money into the departmental bank account.
Accrding to departmental Spokesperson, Joshua Kwapa, the investigation revealed the fraud from as far back as 2009. “It was further discovered that some officials reduced amounts on summonses even though the traffic offenders sent the correct amount via postal orders for their own selfish benefit.”
He said the implicated officials did not bank the money into the department’s bank account but stole it and used it for their personal gain.
The department consequently opened criminal cases against the suspects through the Commercial Crime Unit.
The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Nandi Ndalane, welcomed the breakthrough by the department and hailed the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Unit for the tenacity they displayed throughout the investigation.
“As a department we condemn and despise fraud and corruption.We do not tolerate officials who abuse their positions of responsibility and use them to steal tax payers’ money,” said Ndalane.
“We will continue to investigate any acts of corruption within the department.”
Ndalane warned would-be criminals within the department that they will face the full might of the law.
