Ten licence testing centre officials arrested

Ten officials of the Mandeni licence testing centre in KwaZulu-Natal were arrested for fraud, says the province's department of transport.

“Ten officials, including six examiners and their head, have been arrested for fraud in the issuing of licences and learners licences,” said transport department spokesman, Kwanele Ncalane on Friday.

They had been arrested by the department's transport and traffic investigating unit and the police's crime intelligence unit.

“It was a joint investigation which took about two years and it has resulted in these arrests,” he said.

Ncalane said the arrest would send a clear message to other officials that the department was serious about rooting out corruption.

“The MEC (Willies Mchunu) has commended the arrest because he believes that the campaign to minimise accidents has to start at the testing grounds were licences are issued. Granting licences to people who are not competent to drive leads to accidents,” he said.

Those arrested were expected to appear in court soon, he said.