Seven NW officials linked to taxi permit fraud

Seven high ranking officials from the Department of Transport in the North West province have been suspended with immediate effect. Their suspension follows an investigation by the department on the issuing of fraudulent taxi permits in the province.

It is estimated that more that 3 000 illegal taxis are operating in the province.
Last week, transport authorities impounded more that 70 illegally operating taxis in the Mafikeng area alone.

The Provincial Transport Department and the police have launched an investigation on the issuing of these operating permits.

Spokesperson for the Department of Transport, James Moche, confirmed that these fraudulent permits could be cause for serious violence in the taxi industry.

The permit-issuing syndicate was uncovered two weeks ago during the clamping down of illegal taxi operators by law enforcement authorities. A 46-year-old woman was arrested on Friday after being found in possession of fraudulent taxi permits.

Legal taxi operators say the department's decision to suspend these officials was long overdue.

The suspended officials will know their fate as soon as investigations have been concluded. They are on full pay. According to the department, more suspensions are imminent.