Law enforcement agencies have arrested another 13 traffic officers in different towns in Mpumalanga in an anti-corruption operation to restore discipline and ethical conduct in the traffic law enforcement sector.

This brings the total number of arrested officials to 39, following the arrest of 11 officials in the same province on Monday. Fourteen officers were also arrested in Polokwane in Limpopo last week and a weighbridge master was caught in Belfast, Mpumalanga.

The 13 officers arrested yesterday were caught in a joint operation conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) National Anti-Corruption Unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and Mpumalanga-based Crime Intelligence.

The suspects were nabbed in Nelspruit, Kabokweni, KwaNyamazane, Hazyview, Barberton, White River and Calcutta just outside Mbombela.

Some of the suspects have appeared in different magistrate courts and were all granted bail ranging from R2 500 to R10 000.

They are expected to hand over their passports to the investigating officer, and not leave their hometowns without permission.

RTMC CEO Advocate Makhosini Msibi has welcomed the arrests and says they will send a message that corruption within traffic law enforcement will not be tolerated.

“Corrupt officials have for a long time operated with impunity and turned the noble duty of enforcing the law into a self-enrichment scheme. This must come to an end. South Africa deserves ethical officers who conduct themselves with discipline and integrity,” he says.

He commended all the officers involved in the investigations and called on them not to rest until all the ‘rotten apples have been removed’.

“Corrupt officers erode public confidence in traffic law enforcement and create conditions where motorists can violate road rules without consequences, leading to avoidable road crashes and fatalities.”

The RTMC urges the public to report traffic fraud and corruption by email to Ntacu@rtmc.co.za or via WhatsApp on 083 293 7989. – SAnews.gov.za

Others arrested

Yesterday, Zululand Observer reported that corrupt driving licence officials and driving school owners are facing the full might of the law, with 30 people due to appear in the Richards Bay Magistrate’s Court today.

According to the KZN Department of Transport, the traffic and transport inspection unit and the Hawks initially arrested nine people – two examiners and 10 licence applicants who benefitted.

The number has since increased to 30 and the department has revoked all learner’s licences issued by those arrested.

On Monday, Lowvelder reported that eight traffic officials and one driving school owner were arrested in Mpumalanga.

The arrests followed a two-year, prosecution-led operation involving the DPCI Mpumalanga, the RTMC and Crime Intelligence.