Morris Robert Shabalala (59) did not spend a day behind bars after his arrest.

He was released on R15 000 bail by the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on July 25 after being arrested by the Mpumalanga Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on charges of fraud and money laundering.

The provincial Hawks spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said his arrest is linked to the arrest of 17 other suspects, including two other business people, five former Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL) employees, and licensing officials based in Mbombela, Piet Retief, Mashishing, KaMhlushwa and Delmas. The other accused were nabbed from December 2022 and April 2023.

ALSO READ: Woman arrested near Malalane for alleged possession of unlicensed firearm

“It is alleged that during December 2018, officials from the municipal Vehicle Licensing Department (VLD) colluded with truck owners who owed a lot of money, and channelled it into their personal accounts and then renewed their licences without paying them the full outstanding amount,” she said.

Mpumalanga’s MEC for the DCSSL, Vusi Shongwe, has welcomed Shabalala’s arrest. “We once more reiterate our stance that corrupt officials and business people must face the full consequences of their actions. The government is losing millions of rands due to these individuals with low levels of integrity. Their actions also put vehicles that are not roadworthy on the road. They must be dealt with harshly,” Shongwe said.

ALSO READ: Still no sign of missing Barberton man

He appealed to fleet owners and trucking companies to refrain from colluding with officials at licensing centres. “We will continue to co-operate with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and other law enforcement agencies in investigating these cases. They must continue with vigour and relentlessness to end corruption in the the VLD.”

He said his department remains committed to deal with corruption within its licensing unit and said that was the reason several officials and traffic law enforcement officers had lost their jobs after they were found to be involved in fraudulent activities and bribery while on duty.

The case against Shabalala was postponed to August 30 for further investigation.