TWO TRAFFIC OFFICIALS CHARGED FOR CORRUPTION INVOLVING AN AMOUNT OF R200.00
Two traffic officials of the Limpopo Provincial Government were charged for corruption involving an amount of R200.00 in the Groblersdal Magistrates Court in Limpopo.
Eugene Nhlanhla Masina and Jacob Matjiane Pitso were charged for contravening sections 4(a), alternatively section 3(a) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 for accepting a gratification and defeating the administration of justice.
The accused persons acted in common purpose with each other when they stopped a vehicle around Moutse area opposite the Sekhukhune District Municipality, three occupants were in the vehicle including the driver.
The accused were on routine duty and spotted the driver who was using his cellphone whilst driving, which is by Law forbidden, they stopped the car and demanded a R100.00 gratification from the driver for him not to be issued with a traffic fine. The driver of the vehicle then told them he doesn’t have R100.00 and the occupants raised R200.
Unbeknown to the accused, the driver and the two occupants were members of the South African Police Services in the Directorate For Priority Crimes Investigations (HAWKS) driving unmarked vehicle.
The Hawks members then gave their colleague a R200.00 note for him to hand it over to the traffic officials, who then informed him they don’t have change and therefore they will keep the R200.00.
After the traffic officials accepted the gratification then the Hawks Police official introduced himself and placed two traffic officers under arrest for corruption.
Subsequent to the arrest accused one, Eugene Nhlanhla Masina appeared before Groblerdal for bail application and was denied bail after he failed to satisfy the court that the interests of justice permit his release on bail as required by Schedule 5 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and accused two, Jacob Pitso was granted bail as he was facing an offence in terms of Schedule 1 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977and was granted bail in the amount of R20 000.00 as opposed to the amount of R1000.00 requested by his attorney.
During the bail hearing, the Senior State Advocate Martin Molokwane argued that the amount of bail should commensurate with the gravity of the offence.
He further argued that corruption is a serious offence irrespective of value, it is a root that destroys public service at large, accused persons are presumed innocent but they are facing serious offences and requested the court that bail be fixed in an amount of R100 000.00.
The court found that Masina failed to show that the interest of justice permitted his release on bail.
The matter was postponed to 30 October 2024 for further investigations.
