Two traffic officers and a driving school instructor, arrested on Tuesday and charged with selling fraudulent learners’ and drivers’ licences , were remanded in custody yesterday.
The two traffic officers – Nomonde Mangesi, 38, and Nonceba Matsinya, 52, – were arrested at the Nyandeni traffic department testing centre where they work.
They are accused of illegally issuing and selling licences.
Driving school instructor Mphikeleli Maqekeza, 30, is accused of organising clients for the two traffic officers.
They were arrested by the Hawks and all three face charges of fraud and corruption.
Eastern Cape Hawks spokeswoman Captain Anelisa Feni said: “During the arrest the Hawks seized, among other items, completed application forms for learners’ and drivers’ licences in the private vehicle of one of the traffic officers.”
The driving instructor worked for a driving school in Libode.
Police believe he was organising the clients for the traffic officers to sell the learners’ and drivers’ licences to.
The three appeared in the Libode Magistrate’s Court yesterday where their case was postponed to August 1 for a formal bail application.
They were not asked to plead and will remain in custody until then.
Police said the driving school was used to disguise the illegal activities as they did not teach their students how to drive, but would arrange fraudulent documents at a cost.
Their arrests come hot on the heels of a similar arrest in March when the Hawks cracked open another driver’s licence fraud ring at the Adelaide traffic department.
The probe led to the arrests of chief traffic officer Ricardo du Plooy, licensing officers Loyiso Goba and Jolene Freda Ntshiza, and Ace Driving School’s Sivuyile Tsiti.
Goba, 43, was responsible for eye testing and Ntshiza, 38, was a learner and driver’s licence examiner at the same department.
Two cars from the driving school and two belonging to the officials were seized by the Hawks under the suspicion that they were bought with money that had been illegally gained.
In Alexandria, the Hawks arrested former traffic officer Vuyisile Mnyani, 48, who is the owner of Ace Driving School.
Manyani is out on R6000 bail, and Ntshiza and Du Plooy were released on R1000 bail each.
Earlier this year the Hawks told the Dispatch the syndicate involved many more people.
The elite crime fighting unit revealed it was investigating a number of cases across the province after discovering the trend of selling fraudulently acquired driving for R6000 was widespread.
The Adelaide case will only proceed in court when the Hawks have finished their investigation. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Two traffic officials up for selling licences
The two traffic officers – Nomonde Mangesi, 38, and Nonceba Matsinya, 52, – were arrested at the Nyandeni traffic department testing centre where they work.
They are accused of illegally issuing and selling licences.
Driving school instructor Mphikeleli Maqekeza, 30, is accused of organising clients for the two traffic officers.
They were arrested by the Hawks and all three face charges of fraud and corruption.
Eastern Cape Hawks spokeswoman Captain Anelisa Feni said: “During the arrest the Hawks seized, among other items, completed application forms for learners’ and drivers’ licences in the private vehicle of one of the traffic officers.”
The driving instructor worked for a driving school in Libode.
Police believe he was organising the clients for the traffic officers to sell the learners’ and drivers’ licences to.
The three appeared in the Libode Magistrate’s Court yesterday where their case was postponed to August 1 for a formal bail application.
They were not asked to plead and will remain in custody until then.
Police said the driving school was used to disguise the illegal activities as they did not teach their students how to drive, but would arrange fraudulent documents at a cost.
Their arrests come hot on the heels of a similar arrest in March when the Hawks cracked open another driver’s licence fraud ring at the Adelaide traffic department.
The probe led to the arrests of chief traffic officer Ricardo du Plooy, licensing officers Loyiso Goba and Jolene Freda Ntshiza, and Ace Driving School’s Sivuyile Tsiti.
Goba, 43, was responsible for eye testing and Ntshiza, 38, was a learner and driver’s licence examiner at the same department.
Two cars from the driving school and two belonging to the officials were seized by the Hawks under the suspicion that they were bought with money that had been illegally gained.
In Alexandria, the Hawks arrested former traffic officer Vuyisile Mnyani, 48, who is the owner of Ace Driving School.
Manyani is out on R6000 bail, and Ntshiza and Du Plooy were released on R1000 bail each.
Earlier this year the Hawks told the Dispatch the syndicate involved many more people.
The elite crime fighting unit revealed it was investigating a number of cases across the province after discovering the trend of selling fraudulently acquired driving for R6000 was widespread.
The Adelaide case will only proceed in court when the Hawks have finished their investigation. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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