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The DA in Limpopo welcomes the 2-year prison sentence of a provincial traffic official after she lost her appeal against the sentence earlier this month.

Ms. Portia Ramphelo was found guilting of soliciting bribes of up to R2000 from motorists during 2017.

She was arrested together with 12 other traffic police officials by the HAWKS during December 2017.

Over the past number of years Limpopo has been plagued by allegations of corrupt Transport Department officials, testing station officials and traffic officers.

In 2019 an SIU report identified 43 Limpopo traffic officials involved in serious crimes like fraud and corruption.

The DA believes that traffic officials who solicit bribes from motorists enable reckless behaviour on our roads which leads to fatal accidents.

We reiterate our call for a register which will assist the department to keep record of all officers found guilty of serious transgressions and will also assist in monitoring whether officials who are found guilty have been subjected to consequence management or proper disciplinary action.

The DA believes that getting rid of corrupt traffic officials will assist to keep motorists safer on our roads.

We will further be writing to the MEC for Transport & Community Safety, Polly Boshielo, to request information on all outstanding cases pending against traffic officials implicated in corruption and bribery.

Issued by Katlego Suzan Phala MPL - DA Provincial Spokesperson on Transport and Community Safety