Traffic officers arresting their own this festive season

The Department of Transport has been arresting some of its own this festive season as road safety operations continue.

Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula says a sting operation led to the arrest of two Tshwane Metro Police (TMPD) officers for alleged bribery and corruption.

'The national traffic anti-corruption unit and the Hawks pounced on the 33-year-old officers yesterday after the pair allegedly tried to solicit bribes from motorists,” said Mbalula on Monday.

He was speaking at the Mariann Hill  Plaza in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and said lawlessness will not be tolerated.

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In a separate incident, a police officer was arrested twice for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The officer was nabbed in Limpopo last Thursday and later released on bail.

"He was apprehended again on Friday night after he tried to flee from a roadblock. He was again driving drunk,” said the Minister.

Four people were apprehended for unlawful possession of firearms, one for impersonating an officer and 918 others were nabbed for various other offences in KZN this past weekend alone.

The Department of Transport said more than 70 people had also been arrested for drunken driving.

"The law enforcement continues to raise awareness and to encourage good behaviour, but at the same time bring to book those who undermine the laws of the road,” said Mbalula.

"Law enforcement efforts will be intensified in a bid to save lives across the country, during the festive season and beyond,” he concluded.

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