The Hawks on Thursday arrested another seven licensing centre officials on charges of fraud and corruption‚ the City of Johannesburg said.
“Four of the suspects are from the Martindale Bulk Licensing Department‚ while the remaining three are from the Langlaagte Licensing Department‚” mayor Herman Mashaba announced in a statement
“This brings the total number of licensing centre officials arrested to date to 15. The remaining 100 licensing officials who were identified in the forensic report will be arrested in coming weeks.”
The seven suspects are to appear in court on Thursday.
The arrests came ahead of Gauteng’s roads and transport boss‚ Ismail Vadi‚ announcement on Thursday of “major anti-corruption measures for all provincial and municipal driver licensing testing centres”.
“Measures include possible arrests and suspension of officials allegedly implicated in fraud and corruption related activities‚” Vadi’s office said said.
“The departmental investigating team has for some time been working closely with the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies to root out corruption at the centres.”
Earlier this week‚ it emerged that the City of Johannesburg had suspended more than 70 officials.
Of these‚ Mashaba said: “We have also acted swiftly in ensuring that 72 of the allegedly corrupt licensing centre officials are suspended from their jobs.
“All 72 officials were given an opportunity to provide reasons as to why they should not be suspended‚ however their reasons were found to be unsatisfactory. We hope to conduct the disciplinary hearings as soon as possible. Due legal process will be followed at all times.”
He also asked “residents for patience while we continue to rid our licensing centres of corrupt officials”.
“We have hired an additional 40 new staff members‚ and staff members from other sections within the licensing department will be deployed to vacant positions so as to minimise the effect on operations at the centres.”
Another 7 licensing centre officials arrested
“Four of the suspects are from the Martindale Bulk Licensing Department‚ while the remaining three are from the Langlaagte Licensing Department‚” mayor Herman Mashaba announced in a statement
“This brings the total number of licensing centre officials arrested to date to 15. The remaining 100 licensing officials who were identified in the forensic report will be arrested in coming weeks.”
The seven suspects are to appear in court on Thursday.
The arrests came ahead of Gauteng’s roads and transport boss‚ Ismail Vadi‚ announcement on Thursday of “major anti-corruption measures for all provincial and municipal driver licensing testing centres”.
“Measures include possible arrests and suspension of officials allegedly implicated in fraud and corruption related activities‚” Vadi’s office said said.
“The departmental investigating team has for some time been working closely with the Hawks and other law enforcement agencies to root out corruption at the centres.”
Earlier this week‚ it emerged that the City of Johannesburg had suspended more than 70 officials.
Of these‚ Mashaba said: “We have also acted swiftly in ensuring that 72 of the allegedly corrupt licensing centre officials are suspended from their jobs.
“All 72 officials were given an opportunity to provide reasons as to why they should not be suspended‚ however their reasons were found to be unsatisfactory. We hope to conduct the disciplinary hearings as soon as possible. Due legal process will be followed at all times.”
He also asked “residents for patience while we continue to rid our licensing centres of corrupt officials”.
“We have hired an additional 40 new staff members‚ and staff members from other sections within the licensing department will be deployed to vacant positions so as to minimise the effect on operations at the centres.”
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