Traffic cop sentenced to four years for corruption
A traffic officer was sentenced to four years imprisonment after being arrested in 2019 for soliciting bribes.
Christian Zanele Vilakazi (38), was sentenced to four years direct imprisonment by the Middelburg Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
Vilakazi, a Traffic Officer, was arrested by the team comprising of the Hawks Nelspruit and Middelburg based Serious Corruption Investigation, Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and Crime Intelligence in June 2019 at Middelburg.
Her arrest followed a year long undercover operation that was conducted by the team between 2018 and 2019.
The team’s main focus was at Steve Tshwete Local Municipality area, whereby law enforcement officers taking bribes from motorists were targeted.
Vilakazi was convicted for corruption by the Middelburg Commercial Crimes Court on 17 July 2024.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation Major General Gerber applauded the multi-disciplinary team of investigation and the prosecuting authority who secured the sentence.
“This sentence will send stern warning to other would be corrupt officials. We will do all in our power to root out corruption. Sentences such as this is the only appropriate sentence for corruption,” he concluded.
