A traffic official was sentenced to two years in jail or a R20 000 fine after pleading guilty to corruption, following the arrest of two officials during a sting operation conducted by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team.
They appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
Melisa Kgoma (32) appeared in court together with her co-accused, Lefu Ntlangoe (45), who is still being investigated for corruption.
The arrests follow an incident in April when they were conducting patrol duties in Bultfontein. They stopped a truck and found that the licence disc had expired.
The two traffic officials demanded R1 500 from the driver, who then reported the incident to the SAPS.
“A sting operation was conducted by the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation team, together with K9 Unit, all based in Bloemfontein. The two officials were arrested after they were found in possession of R1 500 they demanded from the victim,” said Capt. Christopher Singo, spokesperson for the Hawks in the Free State.
“The court sentenced Kgoma to a fine of R20 000, which she will have to pay off in monthly instalments of R2 000, or two years’ direct imprisonment.
The trial against Ntlangoe is still ongoing, and he is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on 7 November,
