By Staff Reporter
LEPHALALE – A traffic official has been arrested for alleged corruption after reportedly issuing learner’s and driver’s licences in exchange for “cold drink” (bribes) at the Lephalale Testing Station.
The accused, Mpho Watson Nkgumane (37), appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on 07 October 2025, where he was granted bail of R1,000.
This followed his arrest by the Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation (SCI)unit on 06 October 2025.
The case stems from complaints received by the SCI in 2021, alleging that certain officials were issuing learner’s and driver’s licences without following proper procedures in return for gratification.
On 07 February 2025, the SCI, together with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), conducted a joint operation at the testing station. Investigators found eight learners writing their learner’s licence tests, while ten names appeared on the attendance register.
Further investigations revealed that Nkgumane was listed as one of the learners but had not sat for the test, raising suspicions of fraudulent activity.
A corruption case docket was opened, and the Hawks established that the accused had received gratification in the form of money for issuing licences. Following the completion of investigations, the docket was handed to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which issued a warrant of arrest. Nkgumane was later traced and arrested in Lephalale.
The case has been postponed to 12 November 2025 for further investigation.
The Provincial Head of the Hawks in Limpopo, Major General (Adv) Gopz Govender, commended the team for their excellent work in exposing corruption within the licensing system.
