Avoid paying a bribe for a Limpopo learner’s licence

A man from Limpopo has appeared in court for allegedly bribing his way to get a learner’s licence. Mpho Watson Nkgumane, aged 37, is accused of paying what’s commonly known as ‘tjotjo’ (a bribe) to fraudulently obtain the licence at the Lephalale Testing Station. This comes after the Hawks received tip-offs in 2021 about corrupt officials at the station who were issuing licences without proper procedures for money.

Key details from the incident

• Who: Mpho Watson Nkgumane, a 37-year-old man, and the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation).
• What: Alleged corruption and bribery to obtain a learner’s licence fraudulently.
• Where: Lephalale Testing Station in Limpopo.
• When: The investigation began in 2021 based on complaints. A joint operation occurred in February 2025, and Mpho Watson Nkgumane appeared in court following his arrest. The original tweet was posted on 8 October 2025.
• Why: Complaints were received in 2021 about officials issuing learner’s and driver’s licences in exchange for bribes.
• How: A joint operation by the Hawks at the Lephalale Test Station found irregularities. Investigations revealed that Nkgumane had not written the test but had paid a bribe. A warrant for his arrest was issued, and he was later apprehended.
• Court appearance: Nkgumane appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court and was granted bail of R1000.

A summary of the story

The story centres around an alleged case of corruption at the Lephalale Testing Station in Limpopo, where officials are accused of taking bribes to issue learner’s and driver’s licences. This issue came to light in 2021 when the Hawks started receiving complaints about these irregular practices. Following up on these tip-offs, a coordinated operation was launched at the testing station in February 2025. During this operation, officials discovered several learners taking their learner’s licence test, while others had merely signed the attendance register. It was during the preliminary investigations into this operation that Mpho Watson Nkgumane, 37, was found to have not actually taken the written test on that day. Further investigation suggested that he had paid a bribe, or ‘tjotjo’, to secure his learner’s licence. As a result, a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was eventually located and apprehended in Lephalale and subsequently appeared in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court to face charges of corruption. He was granted bail set at R1000.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What does ‘tjotjo’ mean in this context?
  A: ‘Tjotjo’ is a colloquial term in South Africa that refers to a bribe or an illegal payment made to get something done unfairly or to bypass proper procedures.
• Q: When did the investigation into the Lephalale Testing Station begin?
  A: The investigation began in 2021 after the Hawks received complaints.
• Q: What happened during the joint operation in February 2025?
  A: The Hawks entered the exam room and found eight learners taking the test, while ten others had only signed the attendance register, indicating potential irregularities.
• Q: Was Mpho Watson Nkgumane found to have written the test?
  A: No, preliminary investigations revealed that Nkgumane was absent and had not written the test that day.
• Q: What was the outcome of Nkgumane’s court appearance?
  A: He appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court, was charged with corruption, and was granted bail of R1000.
• Q: Are there more stories like this available?
  A: Yes, you can find more news and updates on similar events on this page.
• Q: Where can I find the original source of this news?
  A: You can read the original report on the Limpopo Chronicle’s Twitter page at this link.