Victor Hlungwani

Victor Hlungwani

A Limpopo official who was allegedly caught red-handed selling drivers' licences at the Giyani testing station has left Greater Giyani Municipality in confusion.

This follows the suspected culprit's resignation before appearing before a scheduled disciplinary hearing.

Sammy Khumalo, 37, and Mukodeleli Masia, 33, were allegedly caught red-handed issuing drivers' licences to people who had never been registered for testing.

Khumalo, who shocked the municipality with his resignation, was accused of 18 offences of selling learners' and drivers' licences fraudulently.

Masia and Khumalo were hired last year in an attempt to alleviate the chronic shortage of traffic examiners at the testing station.

"We paid various amounts ranging between R500 and R3000, depending on whether you wanted a learner's or driver's licence," said a man who had obtained a licence fraudulently. He refused to be named.

"Most of us used to meet the officers in a hotel in Polokwane to pay them the money."

Another fraudulent licensee said it was not only in Giyani that licencses were on sale.

He claimed that most testing stations in Limpopo accepted bribes from learners' and drivers' licences "applicants" who paid up to R4000 to driving instructors.

The scam is allegedly run by owners of driving schools who instruct the driving school instructor to collect the money, which was then shared with the traffic officials.

Limpopo MEC for transport Justice Pitjo condemned acts of fraud at the testing station during his Imbizo at the station last week.

Giyani Municipality spokesman Room Mdaka said they were a council decision on what legal action should be taken against Khumalo.