Mpumalanga Traffic Intervention Unit (TIU) have on Friday last week [13 January 2017] arrested a Nigerian national, Mr. Smith Gabriel Ekwegu for reckless and negligence driving and bribing traffic officers.
The traffic officers were doing speed operation when they caught Mr. Ekwegu who was in possession of an Australian Driving License driving at 141 km/h on a 100 km/h zone on the N4 Toll Road Schoemanskloof bypass.
He was also overtaking on a solid barrier line. After he was stopped, he gave the traffic officers a R1000 to stop them from arresting him.
Mr. Ekwegu was then arrested and appeared at Nelspruit Regional Court on Monday [16 January 2017] for bribery and reckless and negligence driving. He was released with a R1500 bail and the case was postponed.
Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane has applauded the officers for arresting the man saying this will serve as a lesson to those who bribe law enforcers.
“We cannot always blame our traffic officers for corruption while we as community members are also the initiators of it. Bribing police or traffic officers is defeating the ends of justice and it is crime.
“We cannot win the battle against road crashes if motorists bribe officers when they are caught on the wrong side of the law,” he said.
The MEC also encouraged motorists to report officers who demand bribery from them saying that there is no place for corrupt officials in the public service.
Ends.
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza Contacts: Tel: 013 756 6371/ Cell: 082 678 1450
Email: emabuza@mpg.gov.za