Muni law enforcement corruption claims

KNYSNA NEWS - A municipal law enforcement officer has been suspended from his duties after he was recorded on camera seemingly taking a bribe in return for a learner's licence.

"There are charges levelled against Mr Thami Magadla, which will be dealt with in terms of the Disciplinary Code of Conduct and processes outlined in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council Collective Agreement," Knysna's former acting municipal manager, Johan Jacobs, told Knysna Plett-Herald this week.

The video of Magadla first appeared in a segment on the popular news programme Carte Blanche, which aired on Sunday 29 May.

In the segment, aired as part of a focus on driver's licence corruption around the country, local law enforcement officer Thami Magadla is approached at St James Memorial Square by a member of the programme's undercover team requesting a learner's licence.

Magadla can be seen in his Knysna Municipality Law Enforcement uniform, walking with the man to a parked bakkie in the Memorial Square access road along the library leading to Fichat Street.

Magadla then explains that a date needs to be booked for a learner's licence.

He is offered R1 000 for the licence, but it is finally agreed that R1 000 will be paid then, and an additional R500 the following day.

Magadla accepts the money and is shown returning to his duties outside the Knysna Municipality Customer Care centre.

He is later approached by programme presenter Macfarlane Moleli at Woodmill Lane and shown the footage. Magadla denies the allegations despite having been captured on camera, claiming that the money was a loan.

He was suspended after the allegations were brought forward.Knysna Municipality Law Enforcement uniform. Photo: Blake Linder

"It's totally unacceptable, the public should have the faith in any local authority, any government institution, that no corruption can take place," Jacobs told Carte Blanche.

"We're very glad that the evidence was found now, and the municipality can react to that."

Jacobs this week told KPH that the municipality is appointing a prosecutor and a presiding officer in terms of the disciplinary code to investigate the case.

"The municipality is working with the police. They are conducting a parallel investigation into the matter," he added.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies concurred. "The Knysna Detectives [are] conducting an investigation of alleged corruption pertaining to a driver's licence scheme implicating a municipal official," he said.

"This is an ongoing police investigation.

"The docket will [be] submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) upon completion in order to determine whether to prosecute or not."

When contacted by KPH for comment, Magadla did not want to comment.

A vehicle bearing the Knysna Municipality Law Enforcement's traffic division insignia. Photo: Blake Linder