Traffic officers who are believed to have allegedly taken bribes from motorists have received the short end of the rope.
The Hawks arrested 12 traffic officers on allegations of corruption over the weekend.
But not only did this happen in other parts of the province, here in eMalahleni a traffic officer was also arrested for the same crime.
The traffic officer, who has not pleaded yet and therefore is kept anonymous, was arrested on March 31 by members of the Hawks anti-corruption unit.
It is alleged that the traffic officer stopped a man on March 30 who was on his way from Vosman to Clewer. The traffic officer asked to see the man’s driver’s license and inspected the car.
The man said in his statement that the traffic officer told him his car was not in a good condition and for R1 500 he would oversee it.
The man told the traffic officer that he can only pay R1 000, but the traffic officer persisted on the R1 500 and told the man to go and arrange the rest of the money.
The traffic officer took the man’s licence disk and allegedly told him he would get it back once he brings the money.
The man then went to Vosman Police Station and reported the matter. While he was giving his statement to the police he received a missed call and when he phoned back it was the traffic officer who told him to bring the money the following day and only then he would get back his license disk.
The anti-corruption unit stepped in, the traffic officer was arrested. He appeared in Witbank Magistrate Court on April 1 where he was granted R1 500 bail. This case was postponed to May 6.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has welcomed the arrest. It is believed that the officers made arrests in various operations that took place across the province.
“We cannot allow some corrupt elements to reverse the gains we have made so far in reducing road crashes and making our roads safer. We should all work together to expose the few corrupt law enforcers,” Shongwe said.
The MEC further said that those who are found to be on the wrong side of the law would be harshly dealt with irrespective of their positions. He also said that those who take bribes are committing a crime and they should be treated as criminals.
He has further called on the members of the public to expose corruption within the law enforcement fraternity particularly traffic officers because government cannot be on every corner.
MEC Shongwe has also called on Criminal Justice System to harshly punish those who are found guilty of any wrong doing.
Democratic Alliance Spokesperson on Community Safety and Security, MPL Bosman Grobler said this proves that it is not the everyday resident of Mpumalanga who is corrupt, but those who are meant to serve the public.
“The DA would like to urge traffic officers to learn to love and respect their jobs. They must avoid corrupt activities and not accept bribes from drivers who are found on the wrong side of the law.”
The 12 traffic officers arrested over the weekend appeared at the Nelspruit Magistrate Court on April 4. They were granted bail of R1 500 each. The case was postponed to April 22 for further investigation
