A number of recently-appointed North West traffic officials could lose their jobs if it was found their driver’s licences were fake, the provincial transport department said on Friday.
”If it is found that they knew about it, they could face internal disciplinary steps, and dismissal is a possibility,” representative James Moche said.
Asked about possible criminal action, he said: ”We are not ruling out anything. But I can assure you, we will take concrete action.”
Moche said the department recently learnt that driver’s licences acquired by some of the 60 traffic officers appointed in January were ”highly questionable”.
He could not reveal an exact figure, but said: ”it is not more than 10% of the 60”.
One of the 60, Rakgadi Tlholoe, was appointed despite having only a learner’s licence. A driver’s licence was a prerequisite for the job.
Tlholoe would not face further action since an investigation revealed that ”it was an oversight on our part,” Moche said.
”The selection process was a complicated one given the fact that the department received more than
15 000 applications,” the department said in a statement.
It added Tlholoe has been confined to office work while she obtains her licence.
The others with ”questionable” licences have not been removed from duty, Moche said.
”We cannot at this stage take appropriate action as we have no proof (that the licences are fake).”
This formed part of a broader three-year investigation into the legality of licences issued in the province.
Widespread corruption had been revealed particularly at five driver testing stations — Madikwe, Mogwase, Mafikeng, Schweizer-Reneke and Ottosdal.
This has led to licences being revoked, Moche said.
A report with detailed figures would be released in a few weeks. – Sapa