SECUNDA – Residents of Govan Mbeki Municipality were not surprised when they heard about the arrests of three people for corruption related to the issuing of learner’s and driver’s licences.
Some took to social networks and blame the issuing of fraudulent documents as the cause of many road accidents.
Residents urged the municipality to also investigate corruption at the eye testing section.
“I was once told that I had problems with my eyes and was told to pay R250 in order to proceed with the renewal of my licence,” said a resident who refused to pay and went to a doctor who said he did not have any eye problems.
At the Eendracht testing ground, people from as far as KwaZulu-Natal allegedly come to buy driver’s licences.
Residents believe the biggest culprits are still out there and are continuing with corruption.
Lebohang residents want to know what had happened to the computers that were stolen from the Eendracht licencing offices in March last year and what the outcome of the investigation was.
“I think those computers are now used to create fraudulent documents,” said a resident. A municipal official who is testing people for licenses in Eendracht’s son allegedly owns a driving school and takes applicants to the Eendracht testing ground where they get tested by his mother.
Some people said it is not fair that licence department officials demand bribes from the poor who cannot even afford to pay for basic services.
Residents also wanted to know if the three officials who were arrested by the Hawks have been suspended from work. Mr Bheki Kubheka, acting head of Communication and Marketing of the municipality said: “Council received the sad news about the unbecoming conduct of some of its employees in the licensing and registration section of the Department Community Services which resulted in their arrest by the Police, while noting that the arrest was effected in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“The municipality has considered taking disciplinary action in terms of the legal prescripts of the LRA and the Local Government Systems Act. The municipality is currently in the process of suspending the said employees pending full investigation. The results of this action will result in disciplinary action being taken against the employees. It is important to note that while the municipality intents to take disciplinary action, this must be done with full cognisance of the parties’ rights being protected.”
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