Department suspends traffic officers
facing allegations of corruption
Media Statement
14 July 2011
In a quest of
fighting corruption in the public
service, the Mpumalanga Safety, Security
and Liaison department has suspended the
four traffic officers who were allegedly
arrested for corruption.
Three of the officers were arrested in
Malelane on Monday, 11 July 2011 in
connection with allegations of taking
bribes from a motorist, while one was
arrested last month in Barberton for
allegedly demanding R700.
They were all suspended with full pay on
Thursday by the department pending their
criminal cases and departmental
disciplinary action.
The three officers were arrested and
charged by the police after they were
allegedly caught accepting money from a
motorist instead of arresting or
alerting the police about the crime
allegedly perpetuated by the motorist.
It is alleged that the three helped
motorists who transported illegal goods
to the country in exchange of money. The
police set a trap in order to net the
three officers.
MEC Vusi Shongwe says that this is a
clear message that his department will
not tolerate any corruption. This is the
reason Shongwe is still making the call
to all law enforcement agencies in the
province to refrain from taking part in
criminal activities, but focus their
energy in helping people who need their
help.
“The suspension demonstrates that we are
aware that a person is deemed innocent
until found guilty by a court of law and
it also indicates that the department
takes the matter seriously and it will
stop at nothing in taking necessary
action on any official who is found
guilty of any offence,” said Shongwe.
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of
Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 4055
Cell: 082 678 1450
|
