A traffic official and driving school instructor from Vrede in the Free State, convicted for corruption related to learners’ driving licences, were slapped with sentences to either pay a fine or serve a prison sentence.
The Vrede Magistrates’ Court sentenced the two men, driving school instructor Doctor Moloi (30) and traffic official Sipho Malinga (45), on Wednesday, 10 April, based on evidence presented in court.
The men’s sentencing was a result of the Bethlehem Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation team. WO Fikiswa Matoti, Free State spokesperson of the Hawks, said the court found both accused guilty of corruption and it also ordered Malinga and Moloi to respectively pay R2 200 and R2 000 into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA), a separate account within the National Revenue Fund.
Malinga worked as an examiner at the Vrede Traffic Department’s testing station, a custodian of the Free State department of police, roads and transport.
Sipho Malinga (abover)
Matoti said both Moloi and Malinga immediately paid fines of R12 000 and R11 600, thus avoiding serving five years’ imprisonment and six years’ imprisonment, respectively.
“Moloi had half of the sentence suspended for a period of three years on condition that he is not found guilty of the same offence during the period of suspension. Malinga had half of his sentence suspended for five years with the same condition and was also declared unfit to possess a firearm,” said Matoti.
She said probing revealed the pair colluded in corruption relating to learner’s licenses using a recruitment modus operandi.
“Moloi would scout for individuals who needed learner’s licenses and give their details to Malinga to ensure that the individuals pass their tests,” said Matoti. She said an entrapment was set as part of the investigation during the period October and November in 2022.
“Warrants of arrest were issued for the duo on 22 June 2023, and they were subsequently arrested on 4 July 2023 and appeared in court the same day,” said Matoti.
