Five additional suspects aged between 36 and 49 from Delmas Licensing Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Piet Retief Department of Safety, Security and Liaison and Lydenburg Thaba Chweu Local Municipality are expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 12 October 2022 following their arrest during a joint operation by the Hawks’ Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and the National Anti-Corruption unit of the Road Traffic Management Corporation ( RTMC) and Special Investigation Unit ( SIU) on Wednesday, 14 September 2022 at Delmas, Lydenburg and Piet Retief respectively for fraud, theft and money laundering amounting to R60 million.
Their arrest is followed by an investigation carried over from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) during December 2018.
It was reported that information was received about employees who were extending expired vehicle discs to the owners of the vehicles. During further investigation by the Hawks it was established that the cashiers colluded with the motorists after they saw the opportunity of trucks owing large amounts of money where officials would manipulate the system and extend the expiration dates of the vehicle licence discs and re-issuing the new disc that showed zero balance.
Sometimes the truck owners would pay less money to what they were supposed to have paid and the monies will then be paid to those cashiers for their own benefit, money meant for the Department which is termed money dumping, amounting to R60 million.
The total number of the arrested suspects is at fourteen (14).
More arrests are imminent.
The suspects will be charged and detained pending their first court appearances on Wednesday. Investigation is continuing.
The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the collaboration of the investigators from different law enforcement agencies including those who ensured that the investigation was finalized and placed before court. She further warned those who are still busy with corrupt activities that their day is coming. The General further said that, ‘’As the Hawks we shall leave no stone unturned. We shall investigate and arrest perpetrators of crime without fear, favour or prejudice,” she concluded.
