DA welcomes two-year prison sentence for traffic official
In 2019, a special investigating unit report identified 43 Limpopo traffic officials who were involved in serious crimes like fraud and corruption.
SEKHUKHUNE – The Limpopo DA welcomed the two-year prison sentence of a provincial traffic official after she had lost her appeal against it earlier this month.
Portia Ramphelo was found guilty of soliciting bribes of up to R2 000 from motorists during 2017. She
and 12 other traffic police officials were arrested by the Hawks in December 2017.
Over the past number of years, Limpopo has been plagued by allegations of corrupt transport department officials, testing station officials and traffic officers.
In 2019, a special investigating unit report identified 43 Limpopo traffic officials who were involved in serious crimes like fraud and corruption.
“The DA believes that traffic officials who solicit bribes from motorists, enable reckless behaviour on our roads, which leads to fatal accidents.
“We reiterate our call for a register that will assist the department to keep record of all officers found guilty of serious transgressions. It will also help monitoring whether officials who are found guilty have been subjected to consequence management or proper disciplinary action,” said the DA’s Katlego Phala.
“The DA believes that getting rid of corrupt traffic officials will assist to keep motorists safer on our roads. We will further be writing to the MEC of transport and community safety, Polly Boshielo, to request information on all outstanding cases pending against traffic officials implicated in corruption and bribery,” Phala said.
