Former Public Prosecutor Found Guilty of Demanding a Bribe to Squash Drunk Driving Case

• A former Seshego district public prosecutor was found guilty of corruption after requesting a bribe to withdraw a charge
• Rhulani Maboela requested to be paid a bribe of R1500 from a man who was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol
• The case was then withdrawn after the man paid the bribe, and Maboela was arrested shortly after at her workplace

LIMPOPO - A former Seshego district public prosecutor was found guilty of corruption by the Polokwane specialised commercial crimes court on Tuesday, 8 November.

Rhulani Maboela requested a bribe of R1500 from a man arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol in May 2019.

The money was meant to withdraw the charges against the man. Limpopo Hawks spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke told SowetanLIVE that the man reported the matter to the Hawks’ serious corruption investigation.

Read also

Woman shot dead in Mpumalanga electricity protest, authorities investigate allegations of police involvement

An undercover investigation into the matter was conducted. As the investigation continued, the case of driving under the influence of liquor against the man was withdrawn following the bribe payment.

Maboela was soon arrested at her workplace shortly after taking the bribe. The former public protector is out on bail pending her sentencing in January 2023.

According to IOL, a former Limpopo prosecutor was found guilty of corruption last month. Leonard Makhado Ratshilumela pleaded guilty to taking a R6 000 bribe to squash a reckless and negligent driving case.

Driving schools shutdown Mbombela traffic department in protest of R200 increase in bribery fee

Briefly News also reported Driving school operators in Mpumalanga shut down the Mbombela traffic department to publically shame the facility for bribery and corruption. The operators gathered at the facility’s entrance on Tuesday, 1 November and shut the gates in protest of officials at the department increasing the bribery fee, Risefm reported.

Read also

Two people accused of defrauding Industrial Development Corporation out of R54 million out on bail

The protesting operators alleged that examiners initially demanded to be paid R1 700 for their client to pass driving tests. Speaking to TimesLIVE, an anonymous operator said they were told last week that the bribe would increase to R2 000 starting on 1 November.

The operator said they were protesting because they couldn’t afford the increase in the bribe fee. The instructor added that the tester failed all students who didn’t pay the incremented bribe amount.

Source: Briefly News