iol Three former employees of the Kouga Local Municipality are set to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court on Thursday, facing charges of fraud, corruption, and violations of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996.
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Three former employees of the Kouga Local Municipality are set to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate's Court on Thursday, facing charges of fraud, corruption, and violations of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996.
The arrests follow a three-year investigation by the SAPS Anti-Corruption Unit, which uncovered alleged misconduct at the Humansdorp Traffic Department.
The three accused, aged between 49 and 55, were employed as examiners and are suspected of issuing fraudulent driving licences without conducting the required physical driving tests, as mandated by law.
Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zithulele Dladla, emphasised the SAPS’s commitment to eradicating corruption and ensuring public safety. "This arrest demonstrates our dedication to rooting out corruption in the public sector, which poses a serious risk to road users," he stated.
In a separate case in 2024, authorities arrested 33 individuals linked to the fraudulent issuance of driving licences at the Melmoth Driving Licence Centre, under the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality.
As a result, the Department of Transport and Human Settlements revoked all permits issued under the scheme.
Commenting on the crackdown, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for the department in KwaZulu-Natal, reaffirmed that law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks, NPA, and Traffic and Transport Inspection Unit, remain committed to prosecuting those involved in licence fraud.
“Our message is clear—fraudulent drivers who obtained licences through illegal means will be removed from the roads, arrested, and jailed. This initiative is crucial to reducing road accidents and saving innocent lives,” said Sibiya.
IOL