UPDATE: 3 March – 3.40pm

Mfanafuthi Gift Hleza, a senior traffic officer at Msukaligwa Municipality in Gert Sibande District Mpumalanga, was arrested earlier today, 3 March.

The suspect appeared before the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on the same day and was released on R1 500 bail.

According to Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesman for the Hawks, the case was postponed to 26 March for pending further investigation.

Make sure to read the complete article in the next edition.

3 March – 2pm

The Hawks clamped down on a law enforcer in Ermelo on 3 March.

According to Capt Dineo Sekgotodi, spokesman for the Hawks, a 32-year-old senior traffic officer from Msukaligwa Local Municipality, was arrested on alleged corruption during a multi-disciplinary intelligence driven operation.

“The operation was undertaken by members of the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team in Mpumalanga in cooperation with members of the Road Traffic Management Cooperation’s head office on 3 March.

“The arrest followed after several complaints were received about the law enforcer who allegedly solicited bribes from the public who committed traffic violations,” Capt Sekgotodi said.

According to her the operation was conducted on 22 February where the officer allegedly demanded bribes from the officials who were undercover.

“A further investigation also established that members of the public, who committed serious traffic violations, were not prosecuted, but gratifications were allegedly paid to the alleged corrupt official,” Capt Sekgotodi said.

The suspect is expected to appear in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court today, 3 March.

Read the complete article in the Highvelder newspaper.