The Limpopo Hawks arrested two traffic officials, aged 33 and 36, on Thursday for allegedly soliciting a bribe from a member of the Hawks.

According to provincial Hawks’ spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, the traffic officers were driving a state vehicle on Van Riebeeck Street in Groblersdal when they were pulled off the road by the traffic officials.

“The officials informed the driver (a Hawk) that he had contravened the National Road Traffic Act [93 of 1996] by using a cellphone while driving a motor vehicle. After asking the driver for his license, the officer [asked] him to get out of his vehicle and [get] into theirs,” says Mmuroa.

He says the traffic officer allegedly told the Hawk to buy lunch for them so that he didn’t get a ticket.

“The driver apologised but the second traffic official allegedly insisted on lunch being bought. They then demanded R100 from him and the driver gave them the money. The Hawks arrested them immediately after [they received] and pocketed the money,” Mmuroa says.

The duo will appear in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court soon to face corruption charges.