Five suspects are expected to appear in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo tomorrow on charges related to corruption at a licensing centre.

The five were arrested in a joint operation by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation and the Road Traffic Management Cooperation (RTMC).

They are alleged to have issued learner’s and driver’s licences without following proper procedures, in exchange for bribes.

“The investigation - named Operation Combination - was launched, and it was detected that indeed several unlawful activities were done. After completing the investigations, the Hawks referred the matter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for a decision. Subsequently, warrants to arrest the suspects were authorised.

“A joint operation between the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation and the RTMC was conducted [and] the team successfully arrested five suspects at Lephalale Testing Station which managed by Lephalale Municipality,” the Hawks and RTMC explained in a joint statement. 

Driving incompetence is one of the major causes of road crashes in South Africa.

“Evidence shows that errors made by incompetent drivers who obtained their licences fraudulently, are a major contributor to road crashes and fatalities. 

“[Applicants] who benefitted from these alleged corrupt practices must also face the full might of the law,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za