Three additional suspects aged between 36 and 42 from Mbombela Municipality, Mbombela Traffic Department and White River Traffic Department are expected to appear before the Nelspruit Magistrate` Court on Friday, 15 September 2022 following their arrest during a joint operation by the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation and Road Traffic Management Corporation ( RTMC) today at Mbombela and White River respectively, for fraud, theft and money laundering amounting to R60 million.
Their arrest followed investigation carried out 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 the investigation by the Hawks it was established that the cashiers colluded with the motorists after they saw the opportunity of trucks owing large amount 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.
The truck owners would pay the money meant for the Department to the officials for their own benefit which is called money dumping, amounting to R60 million.
The other six accused, former Department of Community Safety, under Section Help Desk, Thembi Millicent Motlohi (43), Allman Thabani Masuku (35), Xoliswa Celia Ngcelwane (52), Nompulelo Winnie Nxumalo (44), Agnes Nosipho Ndzinisa (54) and Mbombela Registry authority Nkosinathi Samuel Gumede (37) were arrested by the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in a joint operation with Road Traffic Management Corporation ( RTMC), National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit ( NTACU) and Special Investigation Unit ( SIU) on Monday 18 July 2022 for Fraud, Theft and Money Laundering. The accused were released on R15 000-00 (Fifteen thousand rand) bail each and the case was postponed to 29 September 2022 for further investigation.
The total numbers of arrested suspects are now nine.
More arrest are imminent.
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 corruption activities that their day is coming. The General further said that, as the Hawks we shall leave no stone unturned.
