Pretoria – Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has urged the board and management of the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) to conduct a thorough audit of the calibre of officers attached to the national traffic police.

Minister Peters said the RTMC must rid its ranks of “rotten apples”, as only men and women of integrity can carry out the task of saving people’s lives on the roads.

“There’s no room for criminal elements in the service. Criminals should not be allowed to masquerade as servants of the people in our uniform,” the minister said on Wednesday.

She was reacting to the arrest of the four traffic officials for robbery, racketeering and theft.

Preliminary reports indicate that the four were arrested by police for crimes committed while on duty in Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg.

The minister said the law must be allowed to take its course.