law enforcement

Image via: SAPS

Three law enforcement officers arrested for bribery and corruption

It is alleged that the law enforcement officers accepted bribes from motorists instead of charging them for traffic violations.

law enforcement

Image via: SAPS

The South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) have confirmed that three law enforcement officers were arrested in Mpumalanga for corruption and bribery. 

In a joint operation, the Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit and the Hawks swooped on the officers employed by Emalahleni municipality as they reported for work in Witbank on Monday morning.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY ACCEPTED BRIBES 

It is alleged that the law enforcement officers Gubhela Victor Mkize, 59, Johannes Vivian Tlou, 53 and Xolani Arnold Nkosi, 38, accepted bribes from motorists instead of charging them for traffic violations. 

“It is alleged that complaints were received from motorists about law enforcement officers of Emalahleni Municipality who were demanding gratification for not giving traffic offenders fines after traffic violations,” said Captain Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi.

“It is further alleged that every time when the suspects are on duty, they do the same thing. An intelligent driven investigation was initiated in 2019, targeting the same perpetrators. In January 2020, an undercover operation was conducted by the team and the same suspects received gratification for not issuing traffic fines for traffic violations during the operation,” added Sekgotodi.

The trio has since appeared in the Emalahleni Magistrate’s Court and they were released on R2000 bail each. Their case was postponed to 10 March 2021 for further investigation.

3 000 MOTORISTS ARRESTED FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IN DECEMBER 

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said more than 3000 motorists have been arrested throughout the country for violating traffic regulation since the start of December.

The majority of suspects (1328 or 43%) were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. A total of 496 or 16% were arrested for driving speeds above the legal limit.

The highest number of drunk drivers were caught in Gauteng and Limpopo where 372 and 342 arrests were made respectively. The National Traffic Police arrested 352 motorists in the different provinces where it is deployed.

The highest number of arrests for speed were made in the Free State province where 323 motorists were caught. The highest speed recorded was on the N1 near Ventersburg where a motorist was caught driving at 242 kilometres an hour in a 120-kilometre zone.

Some of the common offences noticed so far involve people driving without driver’s licences, producing false documentation, reckless and negligent driving, over of goods and operating public transport contrary to the terms and condition of an operating permit.

Zwane said law enforcement will be intensified ahead of and during the News Year’s Day long weekend. Officers are preparing themselves for increased traffic volumes expected at the end of the festive season holidays.