Tebogo Msimanga |
A former Tshwane Metro Police Department traffic officer is sentenced to three years imprisonment after being found guilty on a corruption charge relating to a bribe. A 44 year old Sebo Mathabatha solicited bribe from an under-cover agent from the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit of the Road Traffic Management Corporation. This case dragged for more than five years.
Chief Communication Officer of Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTM) Simon Zwane said the case was first heard at the Cullinan Magistrate Court and was moved after Mathabatha’s lawyers challenged the magistrate to recuse herself.
“This caused lengthy delays which resulted on Mathabatha appearing in the Pretoria Regional Court where she pleaded guilty to the charge.”
Zwane said the charge stems from an incident on 19 December 2015 on Moloto Road, where Mathabatha stopped an under-cover agent and demanded to see his driving licence. When the agent failed to produce the licence, Mathabatha called him to the back of the vehicle where she asked him to ‘give her something’.
“The agent went back to his vehicle and returned to hand Mathabatha a marked R100 note. She was arrested immediately after taking the money.”
The RTMC welcomed the sentence “as it clearly demonstrates that traffic officers are not above the law and that corrupt officials will be pursued without fear or favour.”
