Hawks spokesperson, Tlangelani Rikhotso, says the suspects were arrested in Potchefstroom and Mogwase respectively. She says the arrests follow various reports about driving school owners who allegedly conspired with examiners at testing stations to issue learners’ and drivers’ licences to undeserving applicants in exchange for bribes. Rikhotso says the suspects comprises of seven traffic examiners, four driving school owners, and three driving school instructors. They face charges of fraud and corruption. 

The arrests form part of a project-driven investigation by the Hawks which started in 2017 and is aimed at addressing fraudulent and corrupt activities at traffic stations and driving schools in and around the province.

Rikhotso says the syndicate's modus operandi allegedly involved issuing licences to applicants without subjecting them to the mandatory test in exchange for a bribe varying between R5 000 and R10 000.

The suspects were expected to appear before the Potchefstroom and Mogwase Magistrate's courts today.

OFM News