A former provincial traffic officer, Christopher Mabunda, was found guilty of corruption in the Regional Court in Makhado (Louis Trichardt this week) and sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

Mabunda was arrested on October 3, 2003, after asking an undercover police inspector for a R1 000 bribe. The undercover police inspector was travelling in a vehicle with Zimbabwean number plates, pulling a trailer with all sorts of defects such as non-working brake lights, non-working indicators on the rear of the car and even a canvas that was dragging on the ground. The trap was set after receiving numerous complaints from especially Zimbabwean motorists that they were being targeted by corrupt traffic officers on the N1.

Mabunda was arrested shortly after receiving the bribe and was released on R1 000 bail after his first appearance. During the trial at the Regional Court on May 17, Mabunda was sentenced without the option of parole.

In reaction to Mabunda’s conviction, the Makhado Municipality said they condemn any form of corruption and said they would abide by the decision of the court. The municipality also encouraged members of the public to come forward and report cases where government officials have tried to solicit bribes or have succeeded in doing so.