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Services at the Marble Hall Registration and Licensing Centre have been halted following an investigation into allegations of fraud and corruption involving officials and a driving school owner as well as an accomplice.
Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality has taken a decision to temporarily close the Marble Hall Registration and Licensing Centre from 18 September.
Municipal spokesperson Life Nape said the closure followed the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence and Special Investigating Unit (SIU)’s ongoing investigation into alleged corrupt activities at the facility.
“The closure is necessary to allow law enforcement agencies to conduct their work without interruption and allow the municipality to undertake internal processes. All licensing services at Marble Hall are therefore suspended until further notice,” Nape said.
The six employees, Linah Mabitshela (53), Dina Makena (49), Selemogae Molepo (63), Leuba Monama (63), Petrus Herman Raga (48) and Ephraim Macheko (62), driving school owner Mpho April Aphane (43) and Collen Lwazi Mtshali (57), who allegedly acted as a runner were arrested on 11 September.
The SIU, SAPS and the Sekhukhune District Tactical Investigating Team arrested the accused following a joint operation.
According to the SIU, intelligence gathered during the investigation indicated that the alleged syndicate facilitated bulk transactions involving between 20 and 30 learner’s licences at a time, effectively bypassing lawful licensing procedures.
Police said applicants were charged R2 000 each for the illicit licences.
The accused made their first appearance in the Groblersdal Magistrates’ Court on 14 September, facing fraud and corruption charges.
The matter was then postponed to 21 September for address verification and checks for previous or pending criminal records while the accused remained in custody.
Mabitshela, Makena, Molepo, Monama, Raga, Macheko and Aphane were released on free bail when they reappeared in the court on 21 September while Mtshali was granted R5000 bail. The matter was postponed to 4 December for further investigations.
