Thirty trainee metro police constables in Durban are alleged to have bought their driver's licences from illegal driving schools.

A report on the investigations of maladministration, fraud and corruption at eThekwini municipality alleges that metro police college instructors had referred the trainees to illegal driving schools so that they could obtain licences to satisfy the recruitment criteria.

The Manase audit did not investigate further and the allegations are now being investigated by the Hawks.

The report called for an independent review to determine if the constables were able to drive.

The municipality was silent yesterday on all the findings contained in the report and would not say whether the constables and instructors had been suspended from duty.

Transport Department spokesman Logan Maistry said the department was aware of individuals, who "enforce the law but do not uphold it".

"If they are found guilty, they must be dismissed and then face the sanctions of a criminal case."

Maistry said former KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC S'bu Ndebele had stressed the importance of rooting out fraud and corruption, particularly at driver's licence testing centres.

"A ministerial task team has been formed to deal with fraud and corruption, particularly in the areas of driver's licences," he said.

The Manase investigation was prompted by two undated letters, one anonymous and the other from a former employee, that alleged corruption, fraud, maladministration and sexual harassment in the Durban metro police.

The investigation found there was substance to the allegations of irregular overtime claims, and that the director and superintendent allegedly did not adhere to procedures contained in the conditions of service.

It reported that a police constable was stealing business from the municipality by operating an unauthorised abnormal-load escort business.

Through outstanding traffic fines, ranging from R5000 to R117000, the forensic investigators identified 14 metro police officers who operate taxis.

Durban metro policy and the National Land Transport Transition Act prohibit police officers from holding a taxi operator's licence.

The investigating team recommended that the metro police department be subjected to further investigation.