A joint operation between the Road Traffic Management Cooperation and the Hawks in Limpopo has ended with the arrest of seven provincial traffic officials and the Greater Letaba municipal traffic officer.
This brings to 13 the number of law enforcers who have been arrested for alleged corruption and bribery.
Two operations dubbed “code 14 and Siyabangena” started on Tuesday.
The officers started by arresting six provincial traffic officers at the Tzaneen station.
They then moved to the nearby town of Modjadjiskloof to arrest another provincial traffic officer and the Greater Letaba municipal traffic official.
Three Greater Tzaneen municipal officials and three residents were arrested on Tuesday.
The investigations into the allegations started 18 months ago.
In some instances the traffic officers allegedly took bribe from the Hawks officers who were operating undercover.
RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane says they want to get rid of corrupt officers.
“We arrest traffic officers on allegations that they have been taking bribes on the road when they are supposed to ensure the safety of the road users up to so far we have taken about seven and the operation is on-going and we are going to arrest more at the end of the day we will arrest more people.”
Two Greater Tzaneen licensing officers are still on the run.
Zwane says their arrest are imminent.
Hawks spokesperson Matimba Maluleke says the arrested traffic officials will appear on Thursday on charges related to corruption and bribery.
“Actually today we are terminating operation Siyabangena, it’s a project that was initiated last year to address traffic officers on the road, today we have arrested five provincial officers and a municipal traffic official.”
By late on Wednesday a total of 13 traffic officers were arrested.
The RTMC says municipalities and the provincial roads department will have to come with alternative means to ensure that the roads continue to be manned this festive season in the affected areas.
