SECUNDA – The Secunda Licence and Registration offices of Govan Mbeki Municipality were closed on Tuesday, 18 October when the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in the Free State and the Crime Intelligence and Tactical Response team (TRT) arrested three officials.
The public were ordered to wait outside the offices and the gates were locked.
Ms Thulile Nkonde (32), an examiner at the Licence and Registration offices, and Ms Deborah Thompson (55), a clerk, were arrested.
They appeared in Benoni Magistrate’s Court to apply for bail, but their bail applications were denied.
The third suspect, Mr Hezekiel Mofokwane (33), a senior clerk at the Secunda offices, was granted bail of a thousand Rand.
He was charged with possession of stolen property after government documents were found in his vehicle.
On the same day, nine suspects were also arrested at the Benoni Traffic Department.
It is alleged that the traffic officials and their runners pocketed thousands of Rands by accepting bribes from learner drivers who had failed their tests and people desperate to obtain learner’s and driver’s licenses without undergoing testing.
The runners were arrested at their trading place in Benoni near the testing grounds.
The national head of the Hawks, Lt Gen Mthandazo Ntlemeza, welcomed the arrests.
“These arrests should send a strong message that the Hawks will continue to leave no stones unturned to fight serious fraud and corruption in government.
“Be warned, we will strike when we are least expected and we vow to continue with our work without fear or favour,” said Lt Gen Ntlemeza.
Mr Bheki Kubheka, senior manager of the office of the municipal manager and the acting head of Marketing and Communications of the municipality, said they are unable to comment as the matter is sub judice, however they could confirm that three of their officials were arrested as per the press statement released by the Hawks.
He said the Licensing and Registration offices reopened.
