Greater Tzaneen traffic officer’s appeal dismissed!

Portia Motsatsi Ramphelo (37), a former Provincial Traffic official based in Tzaneen tried to evade prison doors by appealing against her two years direct imprisonment imposed by the Tzaneen Magistrate’s Court for corruption. However, her attempt did not materialise as the court dismissed her appeal on 1 September 2022.

Limpopo Hawks Spokesperson, Captain Matimba Maluleke said that in the beginning of 2017, the Hawks Serious Corruption Investigation received numerous complaints about traffic police officials who were demanding gratification from the motorists who were found to have contravened the Road Traffic Act. It was reported that the accused would demand between R150 and R2000 from the motorists.

“The Hawks in collaboration with the Special Investigating Unit and Road Traffic Management Cooperation reacted by instituting a major investigation dubbed “Siyabangena”. After conducting a thorough investigation, the team arrested Ramphelo together with other 12 Traffic Police at Tzaneen in December 2017.

“Ramphelo was convicted and sentenced to two years direct imprisonment by the Tzaneen Magistrate court on 15 August 2019 which she appealed. The court has on 1 September 2022 also ordered that the accused start serving her two years jail term, however she was given three days to prepare herself”, said Captain Maluleke.