More Mpumalanga Officials arrested for R60m licensing fraud scandal that rocked SA.
Five (5) more licensing officials from Mpumalanga have been arrested in connection with the R60 million motor vehicle license fee dumping corruption scandal in the province.
They were nabbed yesterday morning in a joint operation by the National Anti-Corruption Unit of the Road Traffic Management Corporation and the Hawks. The five were arrested at licensing offices in Lydenburg, Delmas and in Piet Retief in Mpumalanga.
It is alleged that suspects were colluding with other employees of Mpumalanga community safety, security, and liaison at Natis Helpdesk section to fraudulently issue vehicle license discs. They allegedly unlawfully and intentionally printed license discs on the official face-value documents that showed the R0.00 amount as paid.
This brings to 14 the number of officials arrested in connection with this illicit practice. Six more administrators were arrested in July and are out on R15000 bail.
Some of the officials work as clerks in different registering authorities in the province. They are alleged to have colluded with corrupt administrators, who worked at the help desk of the Department of Community Safety and Liaison, to conduct illicit transactions that cost the state a loss of R60 million in unpaid license fees and penalties.
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The arrests followed an extensive investigation involving the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Anti-Corruption Unit, the Hawks and the (SIU) Special Investigating Unit. The investigation revealed that between 2018 and 2019, the suspects manipulated the eNatis system to assist motor vehicle owners to avoid payment of vehicle license fees and penalties owed to the state.
Their modus operandi involved changing the ownership of affected motor vehicles into the name of an unsuspecting individual, a deceased person or a dormant company. Fees and arrear penalties will then be passed on to the unsuspecting individual or companies before vehicle ownership is changed back to the rightful owner without any debt.
In some instances, fees were dumped onto government vehicles by using a GG Authority code.
The suspects are expected to face 603 charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering when they appear in court.
The five suspects will appear in court today, 12 October 2022.
Members of the public are urged to join the campaign against fraud and corruption by providing information to ntacu@rtmc.co.za or through the WhatsApp line 083 293 7989.
