Top traffic cop arrested on 1 640 charges

In an unexpected move, the Hawks in Limpopo arrested a well-known senior Thulamela traffic official last Monday.

The Traffic Manager: Law Enforcement of the Thulamela Municipality, Thilivhali Mulaudzi (48), appeared in court on the same day. His case was postponed to the following day for a bail application.

According to information supplied by the police, Mulaudzi, who is stationed at the Thulamela Municipality's headquarters in Thohoyandou, is facing charges of fraud. Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi said the accused was linked to 1 640 charges of fraud. He is facing 820 cases of issuing fraudulent driver's licences and a further 820 cases of contravening the National Traffic Act.

According to Brig Mulaudzi, the arrest comes after a lengthy police investigation, which started in 2002. He said the arrest came with a recommendation from the Office of the Auditor General.

A bail application scheduled to take place on Tuesday could not proceed because the investigating officer was not present in court and was said to be in Pretoria, attending to another matter. The court in which the accused appeared was filled to capacity, with some people having to follow the proceedings from outside.

Inside were members of the Thulamela Municipality's traffic section, who came in their numbers to support their boss. Mulaudzi stood silently and calmly. Wearing his trademark dark sunglasses, a fancy shirt and a pullover, Mulaudzi was informed as to why the application should be postponed to Wednesday (1 August).

The Head of the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks) in the province, Maj Gen Dibero Molatjana, said the arrest signalled the police’s intention to leave no stone unturned in rooting out corrupt officials. “We are not concerned with a person’s position or the amount of power he or she holds in office. No one is above the law and the Hawks’ claws are out for all corrupt persons,” said Molatjana.

He applauded the Hawks for the thorough investigation they had to conduct before nabbing the suspect.

Also read:

23 May 2013 - Traffic chief a free man

12 April 2013 - “Double jeopardy”, claim Mulaudzi’s defence team

25 July 2003 - Mulaudzi cleared of all charges

02 August 2002 - Axed traffic boss cries foul

News - Date: 06 August 2012

Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019.

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