Transport examiners arrested for �selling� licences

Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday March 14, 2017 16:09

The arrests of the examiners led to a shutdown of licensing services this past week at DRTS in Gaborone at Maruapula, Molepolole and Mahalapye centres, Mmegi has learnt.

“Two were arrested from Maruapula centre, two in Mahalapye and one more in Molepolole. It was established that they would give people marks when they never undertook a road test. Some would be using automatic cars and would be given marks as if they were using manual cars,” the source said.

Association of Driving Schools and Road Safety chairman, Tshepang Western said they were called on Tuesday last week at DRTS headquarters and told that all road tests would be suspended because there was something they were investigating.

Western said their association does not condone the behaviour of driving school operators working with officials to corruptly award driving licences.

He said they have on numerous occasions held workshops to sensitise operators against the practice.

Police spokesperson, Witness Bosija confirmed the incident. “Five transport officials are being questioned by the police over issuance of drivers’ licences for different classes.

They are from Maruapula in Gaborone, Mahalapye and Molepolole,” he said. Bosija added that investigations have cast the net wide with the possibility of more officials being arrested and or questioned in other stations. 

He said as the police, they are concerned about tragic accidents on the roads as some are results of people who did not know how to drive, but having corruptly obtained drivers’ licences.

Efforts to get a comment from DRTS director, Bokhutlo Modukanele proved futile as he was engaged the whole day.

DRTS has struggled with corruption for aeons and at some point, former Minister, Frank Ramsden admitted in Parliament that DRTS is infested with corrupt officials.