Two more Johannesburg metropolitan police officers have been arrested for corruption, bringing the total of officers arrested to 56 in seven months, the department said on Thursday.
Of the 56 corrupt officials, 27 were arrested for reselling goods confiscated from hawkers, and others for accepting bribes and selling driver’s licences and roadworthy certificates, said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.
A cashier at the Langlaagte traffic department was arrested on Thursday after a deal with two men to organise fake driver’s licences went sour.
”The cashier accepted R3 000 from the men, and promised to get them driver’s licences,” Minnaar said. ”But then she started avoiding them, and they reported her.”
On Wednesday, an officer was arrested for accepting a R900 fine from a woman in return for ”forgetting” about a warrant of arrest against her for almost R2 000-worth of traffic fines.
Minnaar explained the woman was stopped by the officer, who has been with the department for less than two years, and it was discovered she owed R1 900 in fines.
”The officer said he would let her go if she paid R900,” Minnaar said. ”She left her driver’s licence with him and said she would fetch the money.”
Instead, the woman called the internal affairs investigation unit within the metro police, and a trap was set.
”Both [officers] are in custody and will appear in court soon to apply for bail.”
Motorists wishing to report corruption can call the internal affairs investigations unit on Tel: (011) 490 1703, Minnaar said. — Sapa