The arrest of six government employees in Mpumalanga on charges of fraud and embezzlement totaling more than R60 million has been hailed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The Hawks detained the six government employees in Mpumalanga on suspicion of violating section 6 of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act as well as allegations of fraud, theft, money laundering, and other offences (POCA Act).
Five of the accused were employed by the Mbombela Traffic Department (MTD), and one by the Mbombela Local Municipality, according to a statement from SIU spokeswoman Kaizer Kganyago (MLM).
On Monday, the defendant showed up in front of the Mbombela Magistrate Court.
According to Kganyago, “the officers were involved in over 10 000 illegal transactions and caused a cumulative loss to the Department of Transport of almost R60 million.”
Thembi Milicent Zulu-Motlohi, Agnes Nozipho Ndzinisa, Xoliswa Ngcelwane, Nompumelelo Winny Nxumalo, Allman Masuku, and Nkosinathi Gumede are the officials who have been detained.
Charges against the six individuals, according to Kganyago, are the result of a SIU investigation that was permitted by Proclamation R.37 of 2017.
The SIU was given the authority to look into a variety of matters, including: (a) the registration and licencing of motor vehicles;
(b) the registration of information regarding the ownership or licencing of motor vehicles; and
(c) the issuance of driving licences, learner’s permits, and professional driving permits.
“The SIU investigation revealed that the accused officials engaged in’money dumping of fees,’ or the manipulation of the eNaTIS system.
They would seek out businesses or people whose motor vehicles (M/V) are far behind on their licence payments and the fines associated with that failure, the man claimed.
According to Kganyago, the suspects would then abandon those fees by transferring ownership of the impacted M/V to unaware parties, deceases, or abandoned businesses.
Using a GG authority code, some fines are also slapped on government vehicles.
The GG authority code is only used for licencing government-owned automobiles.
He noted that the SIU had brought evidence of criminal activity discovered during the inquiry to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) attention for further action in accordance with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996.