Police have arrested 13 traffic officers in different towns in Mpumalanga in a clean-up anti-corruption operation aimed at restoring discipline and ethical conduct to the traffic law enforcement sector.
This brings the total number of arrested officials to 39 following the arrest of 14 officials in the province on Monday, while 11 officers were handcuffed in Polokwane, Limpopo, last week and a weighbridge master was caught in Belfast, Mpumalanga.
The 13 officers arrested on Tuesday were caught in a joint operation conducted by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) National Anti-Corruption Unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) and Mpumalanga-based Crime Intelligence.
The 13 suspects were nabbed in Nelspruit, Kabokweni, KwaNyamazane, Hazyview, Barberton, White River and Calcutta just outside of Mbombela.
Some of the suspects have already appeared in local magistrate courts and were granted bail ranging from R2 500 to R10 000.
They are expected to hand over their passports to the investigating officer and not leave their home towns without police permission.
RTMC CEO, Advocate Makhosini Msibi, welcomed the latest arrests, saying they will send a message that corruption within traffic law enforcement will not be tolerated.
“Corrupt officials have for a long time operated with impunity and turned the noble duty of enforcing the law into a self-enrichment scheme. This must come to an end. South Africa deserves ethical officers who conduct themselves with discipline and integrity,” he said.
He commended the officers involved in the investigations for a job well done and urged them not to rest until all the “rotten apples have been removed”.
The RTMC has urged the public to report traffic fraud and corruption on Ntacu@rtmc.co.za or WhatsApp on 083 293 7989. – SAnews.gov.za
