On Friday, the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court granted 14 of the 18 suspects bail, ranging between R5 000 and R10 000. The accused on bail have been ordered to hand over their passports, not to interact with witnesses, and to steer clear of their respective workplaces - which include the Lengau Traffic and Testing Centre in Bloemfontein and two private testing centres in Lephalale, Port Elizabeth and King Williams Town. The latter bail conditions drew a great deal of criticism from the defense during court proceedings.

Advocates Jeremiah Pela and Joseph Kgoelenya, amongst the other counsel, plead with the Magistrate's Court to consider the implications of barring the accused from their respective workplaces. Pela demanded clarity from prosecutor, Mvuseni Ponye, on whether the accused – particularly those working at Lengau – were on paid suspension in light of the bail condition. He says this is important because they do not want a situation where the accused are forced to stay away from their workplaces and end up not being paid their salaries. Ponye maintained Pela’s concern was for the Labour Court to deliberate on, not the Magistrate’s Court. The defense was also perplexed by the prosecution’s call that the accused should cough up R15 000 for bail.  

The suspects have been identified via court documents as Motseng Seponya, Isabel Segwane Hans, Mphikelele Walter Goliath, Spohokazi Mbonda, Teboho Morake, Tibello Lekale, Ralebeko Sebitlo, Lucia Manga, Diau Djaka, Tumelo Lesufi, Ntebaleng Mahamotsa, Ditlhare Mofokeng, Ndumiso Mthembu, Thobani Mpumlwana, Nthabiseng Nhlapo, Boitumelo Mahlatji, Mankwana Lefophane and Keamogetswe Ngele.

They are alleged to have issued fraudulent police clearance and roadworthy certificates to non-existing vehicles - charging their clients between R600 to R1 200. The evidence against them was gathered in an undercover operation by the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Free State Police, Roads and Transport Department between October 2019 to July 2020. It is alleged the group was a syndicate that operated mainly from Bloemfontein and then spread out to Limpopo, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape respectively.

Accused 10, 16, 17, and 18 will remain in police custody until 12 November. This is to provide the state with ample time to verify their residential addresses.

The rest are out on bail and are set to reappear in the same courthouse on 19 January 2021.

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