DUMISANE LUBISI, Balfour | Tuesday
THE vehicle testing centre in Balfour, Mpumalanga, has been shut down after three of its five traffic officers were arrested on fraud and corruption charges.
Police said the three men were arrested after an internal investigation into allegations that they issued learners’ and drivers’ licences, as well as roadworthy certificates, without conducting tests.
Balfour chief traffic officer Johannes Smith, 38, and two of his juniors were not asked to plead in the Balfour Magistrate’s Court this week. The department’s two remaining traffic officers are not allowed to work until police investigations have been finalised, but they have to report to the municipality every day.
Smith, testing officer Qondi Thomas Shabalala and traffic officer Louis Johannes Kemp were released on R1 500 bail each and the case was postponed to April 9.
Shabalala allegedly passed applicants who never went to the centre to be tested, and Smith allegedly approved their licenses. Kemp allegedly granted roadworthy certificates for untested vehicles.
Acting deputy director of traffic in southern region office in Delmas, Johannes Sebothoma, said the testing station had been closed to prevent any interference with the investigation. More arrests are in the pipeline as investigations continue.
He said the National Road Traffic Act, stipulated that applicants for either learners’ or drivers’ licences must be tested in person at testing centres.
“But in this case, some people were issued with both licences without ever going to the station,” he alleged. He said a meeting would be held to determine if the three officials should be suspended from work. – African Eye News Service
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