Eight charged in Marble Hall ‘cash-for-licence’ case
MARBLE HALL — Eight people, including licensing officials, a driving school owner and an alleged runner, have been charged over a suspected cash-for-licence syndicate at the Marble Hall Driving Licence Testing Centre in Limpopo, where investigators allege learner’s licences were being processed in batches without applicants completing the required tests.
The case followed a joint operation by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), SAPS Crime Intelligence and the Sekhukhune District Tactical Investigating team. Four suspects were initially arrested, while another four later handed themselves over to police.
The accused are Linah Mabitshela, 53, a cashier and eNatis officer; Collen Lwazi Mtshali, 57, an alleged runner; Ephraim Mocheko, 62, a traffic examiner and eNatis officer; Dina Makena, 49, a cashier and eNatis officer; driving school owner Mpho April Aphane, 43; Petrus Herman Raga, 48, a management representative and examiner; and cashiers Selemogae Molepo and Leuba Monama, both 63.
They face fraud and corruption charges arising from allegations that applicants could pay to obtain learner’s licences without undergoing the legally required testing process. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.
According to the SIU, its investigation identified an alleged operation connecting people in KwaZulu-Natal with accomplices and officials in Limpopo. Applicants were allegedly charged R2,000 per licence, with transactions involving batches of between 20 and 30 learner’s licences at a time.
Investigators allege that officials at the Marble Hall centre were used to process the applications through the licensing system.
The investigation also led to the arrest of cashiers at the centre. The SIU said cash was found concealed on some officials during the operation, including approximately R4,500 allegedly hidden in one woman’s underwear and R800 allegedly concealed in another woman’s bra.
Those arrested were investigated for fraud, corruption and alleged tampering with the eNatis system.
All eight accused appeared in the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court on 14 September. Mtshali was subsequently released on R5,000 bail, while the other accused were released on warning. They are expected back in court on 4 December.
The Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality has since temporarily closed the Marble Hall Registration and Licensing Centre.
The SIU’s investigation falls under proclamations authorising it to investigate corruption in the Department of Transport’s licensing environment, including the unlawful issuing of learner’s licences and manipulation of the National Traffic Information System.
The SIU said its investigation is continuing and disciplinary referrals will also be pursued against officials implicated in the alleged scheme. Further criminal action could follow if investigators identify additional participants.
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