The trial against three officials of the traffic department in the Sundays River Valley Municipality, who allegedly issued learner and driver's licenses in exchange for cash, got underway in the Gqeberha High Court on Monday.
Rory Petrus, 33, Zoleka Nopote, 34, and Nonceba Jack, 38, were nabbed after an undercover police operation exposed their alleged illegal enterprise.
They face a total of 50 charges which include fraud, corruption, forgery, racketeering, and the unlawful issuance of learner and driver licenses.
All of the accused have pleaded not guilty.
The state alleges that the offenses took place between October 2019 and April 2020.
The trio held the positions of a Drivers License Examiner, a filing clerk, and a Senior Traffic Officer.
The State alleges that the accused used the Sundays River Valley Municipal Traffic Department as the vehicle through which they participated in a pattern of racketeering activity.
In doing so, they exploited their positions of employment and or authority for their benefit, it is alleged in court documents.
The charge sheet outlines how the two undercover cops, Sergeant Bennie Jordaan and Sergeant Amy Sweetland, approached the accused and how they went about obtaining driver's licenses illegally.
On Monday, the Assistant Director of the National Department of Transport, Petrus Wepener testified on behalf of the State.
Wepener said he was tasked to do an audit in December 2012 when allegations of irregularities and malpractices had surfaced.
According to Wepener, the allegations pertained to the issuing of learner and driver's licenses.
He compiled his findings in a report, which among others outlines how learner licenses were issued to applicants who had failed their tests.
Wepener could conclude this with certainty, as he had remarked most of the tests himself.
Where the issuing of driver's licenses was concerned, he testified that in certain cases there was adherence to proper yard tests and K53 procedures.
Wepener said he presented his findings, along with strict instructions and recommendations to the management representative of the traffic department, who at the time was Andrew Paul Petrus.
Petrus Senior, who has since passed away, is the father of Rory Petrus (accused number one).
The court heard that Wepener's recommendations to Petrus Sr fell on deaf ears.
He then suggested that the police become involved.
The accused are out on bail.
The trial continues.
