Mkhuhlu – Two Mpumalanga-based traffic officers arrested for allegedly taking bribes from learner licence test candidates have been released on R1 500 bail each by the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court.
The pair, attached to the Mkhuhlu Driving Licence and Testing Centre, on Tuesday, appeared in court facing charges of corruption.
The Driving Learner Licence examiners – 51-year-old Manoko Mashaba and 47-year-old Clifford Ngobeni – were arrested by the Hawks on Monday.
The pair were accused of soliciting bribes amounting to R10 600 from candidates for learner driver’s licence tests in exchange for pass marks.
Mpumalanga Hawks Spokesperson Captain Dineo Sekgotodi said “The arrest followed after information was received by the Hawks about officials who are soliciting gratification.
“Then Section 252A authority was granted.
“The complainant was used as an agent and positively transacted with the target.”
Captain Sekgotodi added: “After the transaction, it was found that there were other learners who also paid the gratification to pass the learner’s test.
“An entrapment money of R1 000 was recovered and an extra R9 600 was confiscated from the suspects.”
The pair were ordered to appear in the same court next month, on 26 February 2024.
