Traffic cop granted bail after seeking bribe

A traffic cop who was accused of corruption and requesting a bribe while on duty was granted bail on Friday by the Evander Magistrate’s Court.

The 43-year-old Lucky Zahkele Mhlabane, who worked at the Kinross Weighbridge, was taken into custody by Hawks, or the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, on Thursday.

According to Warrant Officer Thandi Tshabalala, the Hawks’ province spokesperson, Mhlabane was taken into custody by the Serious Corruption Investigation team, which worked with the Secunda K9 Unit.

The Evander Sasol garage truck was allegedly stopped by Mhlabane, a traffic cop, on the road between Evander and Secunda at around ten in the morning.

The truck driver responded that he had no idea where the licence disc was and that the last time he had looked, it was in the vehicle where it should have been when he was queried about it.

The truck driver then made a call to his supervisor to make plans for the licence disc to be delivered at the location of the traffic officer’s stop.

The disc was never brought, even though the driver waited.

After he supposedly gave the traffic officer an explanation of his circumstances, the officer threatened to fine the truck driver R3,500.

However, if he paid R500 gratification he could be released.

“The truck driver again contacted his boss who reported the matter to the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Corruption Investigation unit.

“Copies of the money (R500) were made and given to the driver who then took the money to the accused. The accused was then arrested and the money was found in the marked traffic vehicle,” Tshabalala said.

Mhlabane made a brief appearance and was given R1,000 bail.

The case was moved to November 16 in order to conduct more investigation.