SAPS
The Oudtshoorn Municipality has closed the local traffic department following the arrest of several staff members on charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravening the Road Traffic Act.
The Municipality says the arrests also left a hole in their staffing numbers in the Department.
Acting Municipal Manager, Walter Hendricks says management was not aware of the ongoing investigation from SAPS but said they would support authorities.
He says the remaining staff members are going through internal trauma counselling following the traumatic experience they went through.
Police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie says nine suspects, including the owner and employees of a local driving school, were arrested over the weekend and will be back in court on Tuesday for a bail hearing to be set.
He says it is alleged that the suspects aged between 34 and 61 were part of a syndicate whereby learner and or driver's licenses were issued to applicants in return for gratification.
Police pounced on the Oudtshoorn driver license offices as well as the houses of the identified suspects on Friday.
A Mercedes 14 ton truck, a sedan, cell phones, computer equipment, and an undisclosed amount of cash were seized.
The Oudtshoorn Municipality says their offices will re-open on Wednesday.
Authorities have not yet identified the Driving school that was allegedly involved in the syndicate.
Captain Pojie says drivers who obtained their learners and licenses through their alleged dealings with the syndicate will form part of the broader investigation.
