Police said the three men were arrested after an internal investigation into allegations that they issued learners' and drivers' licences, as well as roadworthy certificates, without conducting tests. The department's two remaining traffic officers are not allowed to work until police investigations have been finalised, but they have to report to the municipality every day. Shabalala allegedly passed applicants who never went to the centre to be tested, and Smith allegedly approved their licenses. Kemp allegedly granted roadworthy certificates for untested vehicles. Acting deputy director of traffic in southern region office in Delmas, Johannes Sebothoma, said the testing station had been closed to prevent any interference with the investigation.
More arrests are in the pipeline as investigations continue.
He said the National Road Traffic Act, stipulated that applicants for either learners' or drivers' licences must be tested in person at testing centres. He said a meeting would be held to determine if the three officials should be suspended from work. Speaking at an All Africa meeting on tobacco control in Pretoria, Derek Yach, WHO's executive director for noncommunicable diseases and mental health, said companies regularly hired market researchers to ask adolescents about their buying and leisure time habits. Yach said Africa, like other parts of the world, was not exempt from these campaigns. Yach praised South African efforts to halt the spread of smoking.