MBOMBELA – Six licensing officials from the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison appeared in court for alleged licensing fraud.
They were arrested by the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s National Traffic Anti-Corruption (NTACU) and the Hawks earlier on Monday. The accused, Xoliswa Celia Ngcelwane, Allman Thabang Masuku, Nkosinathi Samuel Gumede.
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Thembi Millicent Moslehi, Agnes Nosipho Nozinisa and Nompumelelo Winnie Nxumalo were arrested. They are implicated in a multi-million-rand vehicle licensing fraud activities. It alleged five provincial administrators and a Mbombela municipal clerk fraudulently redetermined the classification of hundreds of vehicles to avoid payment of licensing fees and penalties.
“An extensive investigation by the RTMC’s NTACU indicates the province lost close to R60 million in revenue. This is because of the alleged unlawful activities of the suspects,” reads a statement. They were granted R15 000 bail each and are likely to face 603 counts of fraud, theft, and money laundering.
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According to RTMC, they committed the alleged crimes between 2018 and 2019. It is believed that they colluded with many other officials from registering authorities in the province. More arrests are expected as investigations continue. The case will be back in court on September 29, 2022.