Pass your learner’s test honestly to avoid court fines

A 37-year-old man, Mpho Watson Nkgumane, has appeared in court after being arrested for allegedly bribing officials at the Lephalale Testing Station in Limpopo to get a learner’s licence. This incident stems from complaints received by the Hawks back in 2021 regarding irregular licence issuances in exchange for money.

Key details of the incident

• Who: Mpho Watson Nkgumane, a 37-year-old man.
• What: Arrested for alleged corruption and fraudulently obtaining a learner’s licence by paying a bribe (tjotjo).
• Where: Lephalale Testing Station in Limpopo.
• When: Complaints about irregular practices were reported in 2021. A joint operation took place in February 2025. The arrest and court appearance followed this operation.
• Why: The Hawks received complaints about officials issuing learner’s and driver’s licences without proper procedures in return for gratification.
• How: In February 2025, the Hawks conducted an operation at the Lephalale Test Station. They found eight learners taking the test and ten who had signed the register but hadn’t taken the test. Preliminary investigations revealed Nkgumane was absent from the test but had allegedly paid a bribe. A warrant for his arrest was issued, and he was later apprehended in Lephalale.
• Outcome: Nkgumane appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court on charges of corruption and was granted bail of R1000.

A detailed summary of the story

The story centres on an alleged case of corruption at the Lephalale Testing Station in Limpopo, where learner’s licences were reportedly being issued improperly. Back in 2021, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, started receiving information that some officials at the testing station were taking bribes, or “tjotjo” as it’s colloquially known, to help people pass their learner’s and driver’s licence tests without following the correct procedures. This led to a significant operation in February 2025. During this operation, members of the Hawks entered the exam room at the Lephalale Test Station. Inside, they discovered eight individuals who were in the process of taking their learner’s licence test. Additionally, ten other individuals had apparently completed the attendance register, suggesting they were also part of the process, though it’s unclear if they were taking the test or had already left. Further investigations by the Hawks brought to light that Mpho Watson Nkgumane, a 37-year-old man, was supposed to be present for the test but was unaccounted for. Crucially, the Hawks’ preliminary findings indicated that Nkgumane had paid gratification in the form of money, implying he did not genuinely pass the test. Based on this evidence, a warrant was issued for Nkgumane’s arrest. He was subsequently located and apprehended in Lephalale. Nkgumane made his first appearance in the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court, facing charges related to corruption. He was granted bail amounting to R1000.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is “tjotjo” in this context?

  In this context, “tjotjo” refers to a bribe or a gratification paid to secure a service, specifically to get a learner’s licence without following the proper testing procedures.

• When did the authorities become aware of these corrupt practices?

  The Hawks received complaints about officials issuing licences improperly in exchange for bribes starting in 2021.

• What was the Hawks’ operation on February 2025?

  The operation was a joint effort to investigate the alleged corruption at the Lephalale Test Station. Hawks members entered the exam room and found learners taking tests and others who had signed attendance registers.

• What did the investigation reveal about Mpho Watson Nkgumane?

  Preliminary investigations indicated that Nkgumane was not present for the test on that day but had allegedly paid a bribe to obtain the learner’s licence fraudulently.

• What are the charges against Mpho Watson Nkgumane?

  He is facing charges of corruption.

• What was the outcome of his first court appearance?

  Mpho Watson Nkgumane appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate’s Court and was granted bail of R1000.

• Does this mean the entire testing station is corrupt?

  The report indicates that complaints were received about *officials* issuing licences improperly. The operation and arrest target individuals suspected of involvement in these practices, not necessarily the entire institution.

• Where can I find more news like this from Limpopo?

  You can find more stories like this on this page.

• Where can I read the original post about this arrest?

  You can see the original post detailing this arrest here.