Help Us to Make Our Roads Corruption Free and Safer For All | Western Cape Government

News

Help Us to Make Our Roads Corruption Free and Safer For All

25 November 2015

The Department of Transport and Public Works has a zero tolerance approach to bribery and corruption involving traffic officials. Delivering a professional and effective traffic management service to the people of the Western Cape and our visitors depends on it. We do not hesitate to take action against corrupt traffic officials and to lay charges against road users who try to bribe traffic officials.

Corruption is a serious crime. Anyone convicted of an offence, whether the person is a giver or a receiver, could be sentenced to a heavy fine or period of imprisonment. Bribery and corruption involving traffic officers undermines road safety laws, increases the risk of crashes, and increases the likelihood that people could be injured or killed.

We urge members of the public to report any corrupt behaviour by traffic officials. Every case is quickly investigated, and appropriate disciplinary measures are taken. Earlier this year, two provincial traffic officials were dismissed after being found guilty of corruption – one from the Worcester Provincial Traffic Centre, and the other from the Gene Louw Traffic College.

Another traffic official from the Brackenfell Traffic Centre was dismissed for misusing a government vehicle. A number of road users who tried to bribe traffic officers were also arrested this year. Offers of bribes are especially common at weekend alcohol blitz roadblocks.

The Department conducts regular internal awareness campaigns aimed at traffic officers about bribery and corruption, and the traffic officer training programme at Gene Louw Traffic College has a module called Adhere to Professional Conduct and Organisational Ethics.

Help us to make our roads corruption free and safer for all. To report any form of corruption or bribery involving traffic officials, please contact the Traffic Management Centre on 021 812 4581 or the City of Cape Town’s 24/7 toll-free fraud hotline on 0800 32 31 30.

Media Enquiries: 
Byron la Hoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 9813
Cell: 079 281 8570
Email: byron.lahoe@westerncape.gov.za
 

You can follow the Department of Transport and Public Works on Twitter: @WCGovTPW