Staff Reporter
At least 18 people including a police officer, examiners and administrative clerks from the Department of Traffic and private testing stations have appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on charges of fraud and corruption.
The accused, who made their first appearance on Friday, were allegedly involved in the registration of unroadworthy vehicles and issuing of police clearance certificates without proper examination.
Some of them were working at the Lengau Traffic Centre in Bloemfontein while others were based at P Mvela Testing Centre in Port Elizabeth, Lephalale Private Testing Centre in Limpopo and VTEQ Private Testing Centre in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
Elizabeth Sepanya, 37, Isabel Hans, 49, Walter Goliath, 35, Patricia Mboda, 41, Teboho Morake, 50, Jacob Lekale, 36, William Sebitlo, 31, Lucia Manga, 39, Charles Djaka, 52, Agnes Mahamotsa, 37, Ditlhare Mofokeng, 33, Ndumiso Mthembu, 28, Thaboni Mpumlwana, 35, Joyce Nhlapho, 35 and Botumelo Mahlatji, 31, were released on bail of between R5 000 and R10 000.
The case against the other four accused, Tumelo Lesufi, 30, Boitumelo Mahlatji, 31, Mankwana Lefopha, 32, and Keamogetswe Ngele, 39, was postponed to 12 November for confirmation of their addresses and bail information. They will remain in custody.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement police received information from sources about corruption said to be rife at the Lengau Testing Centre and applied for authorisation to monitor activities there.
“Between 22 October 2019 and 20 June 2020 an undercover agent approached the testing officials to help with the change of ownership, roadworthy certificates, police clearance and renewal of licence discs in exchange for cash,” said Shuping.
“Lekale, a police officer based at Lengau Traffic Centre, allegedly issued police clearance certificates without proper examination being done on the vehicles,” he added.
The NPA spokesperson said traffic officials at the centre allegedly facilitated the issuing of road worthy certificates and the registration of the vehicles without the vehicle being present at the centre.
“They received amounts ranging from R200 to R8 000. The total amount they received is estimated at R68 800.”
The case was postponed to January 19, 2021 for further investigations.