'Kingpins' behind NW licencing fraud to appear in court
Four alleged kingpins fom what police believe to be part of a syndicate involved in the fraudulent sale of driving licences in the North West were arrested on Tuesday.
The suspects, who include driving licence examiners and driving school operators, were arrested in Klerksdorp and Stillfontein.
Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Simon Zwane says the arrest follow a two-year operation by crime intelligence.
“The arrests followed a two-year investigation, dubbed operation KPS, conducted by the Road Traffic Management’s national traffic ant-corruption unit, the South African Police’s anti-corruption and crime intelligence units.
“The investigation revealed that examiners of driving licences were colluding with driving school operators to have learner’s and driving licences fraudulently issued to aspiring driving without requiring them to undergo the required tests.
“It was established that the syndicate had hijacked driving licence centres in Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom and Stillfontein to conduct its corrupt activities.”
Meanwhile, ten other licensing officials from Harrismith in the Free State are due to appear in the local regional court on the 25th of May on charges of fraud related to the issuing of driving licences, adds Zwane.
“Five other officials will appear in the Bethlem regional court on similar charges. They were all arrested in 2021.
“Sixteen suspects who include former Mpumalanga provincial government officials, staff from municipal offices and vehicle fleet owners will appear at the Nelspruit commercial crimes court in connection with the alleged R60 million vehicle licence fee corruption.
“This as they allegedly conspired to ensure that vehicles licence fees and arrears worths ten of millions were written off and officials pocketed half of the fees due to the state.”
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